Be careful in any interaction you did not initiate
Be extra careful if you get the sense you’re being rushed
Be exceptionally careful if sending money to someone: double-check their account information, call the person you’re paying to confirm their bank details and send smaller amounts (using PayID) rather than a single large transaction
Dr Steve’s ‘Three Be’s
- Change your PINs and passwords, especially if you’ve been advised of an increased risk such as with the recent Optus hack.
- Install free, reputable security software such as Avast on your computer and mobile phone.
- Set-up account alerts to receive real-time SMS updates for any transaction on your First Option accounts.
- Switch to using PayID for payments, because you can confirm details of the person you’re paying before you send money.
- Lock your Visa cards when you’re not using them (‘Manage Cards’ in the First Option mobile app).
- Know how to lock your internet banking account, immediately: just enter an incorrect password three times with your member login details on the First Option internet banking login screen.
- Frequently check recent transactions in internet or mobile banking.
- Take control – when someone contacts you requiring confidential information, tell them you’ll call them back and hang up. Look up the phone number and call back yourself.
- Set-up secondary identification for verification in case your driving licence and passport are compromised.
- Check devices registered to use the mobile app under ‘Settings’ then ‘Manage Devices’…. and remove any out-of-date ones.
- Reduce your daily transaction limits if higher amounts are not needed (you will need to contact our Member Services Team during business hours).
- Read up on scams, phishing, porting and hacking on Scamwatch, the Australian government’s excellent online resource.
- Consider setting up protection on your credit profile with Equifax so if anyone who has stolen your ID tries to apply for a credit card or a loan in your name, you will be alerted.