Securing your account from scammers and fraud is our top priority. Read on for more information on what we’re doing, what you can do and other tips on being vigilant to scams and fraud.

HERE TO HELP

If you feel you’ve been scammed or have any questions, please get in touch. You can reach us on 13 64 63, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (AEST/AEDT) or via our website.

THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Australians lose millions of dollars each year to scammers who take advantage of unsuspecting people.

There are a wide range of scams, from dating and romance to investment scams, phishing and payment redirection. Scammers are clever and everyone can be vulnerable to scams. Being informed can help you identify and avoid scams.

Here are some things to look out for:

  • Deals ‘too good to be true’: Usually with a sense of urgency to act now or miss out.

  • Someone asking to access your computer: Never give anyone access to your computer remotely (we’ll never ask!).

  • Sad stories and cries for help: Designed to lure you into handing over money.

  • Links and attachments: scammers will try to get you to click links to fake websites or open attachments to download harmful files. To avoid bad links, type in the web address yourself.

  • Uncommon payment methods: Scammers often ask you to pay using uncommon methods like gift cards and cryptocurrency.

  • Always check bank account details: Scammers might pretend to be your bank and get you to set up a new bank account or PayID to be ‘safe’. They also change legitimate invoices so your payments go to them. Always check by calling the person you’re paying.

Did you know?

One in three scam victims have been scammed more than once. Scammers often offer to help get your money back, which is another kind of scam.

COMMON SUPER SCAMS

Super has become a big target for scammers in recent times given the huge amount of money involved and how funds can be accessed. Here’s some common things to look out for:

  • Promises to help you access your super early. This is the most common one. Remember you can only access your super under special conditions, most commonly when you retire. If someone is offering to help you get your super early, it’s likely they’re trying to get hold of your super themselves or trying to access your personal details by getting you to fill out forms.

  • Offers to open a self-managed super fund. A self-managed super fund can be appropriate for some people. However, scammers will often use them as a way to access your super and personal information. Look out for offers that make unrealistic promises, such as high investment returns, and sell you the idea of ‘taking control’. Their goal is to get you to transfer your super to a SMSF or bank account that they control.

  • Fake websites used to get hold of your personal information. Once you enter in your information, the scammers can use this information to have your super transferred to them.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOUR SUPER

While there is a lot of helpful information already out there, we’re going to concentrate on your super account with us.

1. Firstly, be vigilant. If you get an email or call that doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t. For example, an email requesting your personal information or to confirm your Online Account password. If in doubt, call us first before responding. You receive a call from Team Super - we do make calls from time to time and will always identify ourselves. But if you’re unsure it’s us, ask for the person’s name, call us back on 13 64 63 and ask to be put through to the person.

2. Check the information on your account regularly. Scammers will often try to update your personal information so they can update your password or receive security codes.

  • Look out for suspicious activity. Are there unusual transactions on your account? Is your account balance less than you thought it was due to a withdrawal? This could be a sign of a scam or fraudulent activity.

  • Make sure the email address, mobile number and other personal details we have on file for you are correct. Update your personal details: The easiest way to do this is via your online account. Go to teamsuper.com/login and follow the prompts.

3. Have strong security on your account:

  • Use a strong password. Avoid anything that can be easily guessed (your birthday, etc). Use a phrase with a mix of letters, numbers, symbols, etc. which makes sense to you and is easily remembered.

  • Use an authenticator app to receive 2FA codes to log in to your account. To set up an authenticator app (you’re automatically defaulted to SMS), log in to your account, go to My profile then Two factor authentication.

  • Set up extra security measures. Did you know you can put in place extra security measures to protect your account, such as adding an extra password or security question before we process any transactions over the phone. To set this up, just give us a call on 13 64 63.

What’s two-factor authentication (2FA)? It’s when you use two types of actions to verify your identity. At Team Super you need to use 2FA to log into your online account. You’ll need to enter a password and following this you’ll need to enter an ‘authentication code’ that we send to you by SMS or via an authentication app. 2FA is one of the best ways to protect against someone breaking into your account by adding extra layers of protection.

Always be aware of authentication codes. If you receive an authentication code to your mobile number and you’ve not initiated the login, you should call us on 13 64 63.

4. Be wary of unsolicited ‘sales calls’ from people with big promises. Super’s a big target for scammers given the amount of money involved. If you’re being offered a product, ask for the qualifications of the person calling you, the company they work for (do they have an ABN?) and if they’re licensed to provide financial advice or make recommendations about super (check if they have an Australian Financial Services Licence and ask for their Financial Services Guide).

5. Don’t re-use passwords across different websites. Make sure the password for your Online Account is unique.

6. Don’t ever share your password or two factor authenticator (2FA) information. Some scammers use strategies to try and trick you to give them your password and 2FA security code. Never share this information, even with us. Our staff will never ask you for this information.

7. Keep your devices and apps up to date. Always make sure latest updates are installed as they sometimes contain important security updates.

Learn more about the common types of scams. This will help you identify if you’re being scammed or not. Find out more about these common scams in the Useful links section below.

WHAT WE’RE DOING TO PROTECT YOU

While there’s a lot you can do to protect yourself, there’s also a lot we’re doing as well, particularly behind the scenes. Here’s what you can expect from us:

1. Securing our systems

  • Personal and sensitive information is stored by us and our Administrator electronically within our secure electronic network, servers and cloud service providers. It’s secured by encryption and firewalls which are in line with Australian information security standards.

  • We actively monitor transactions across our systems for fraudulent activity and potential scams.

  • We use the latest encryption technology to protect your information when it is sent between our systems and your device when you log in to your Online Account.

  • We also hold personal information in hardcopy form, for example, in paper files. These files are archived in a secure offsite archiving facility.


2. We'll never ask you to verify your login information
This includes asking you for your password or a two factor authentication code.

What to do if you receive such a call or email? Do not respond under any circumstances. Hang up or delete the email. You can then send us details, including copies of the email.

3. We verify your identity when you call us
When you call us we go through a number of steps to prove it’s actually you calling us about your account.

4. We'll ask you to certify your documents
For important transactions on your account, such as withdrawals, we’ll ask you to provide certified copies of your documents. We can also do this certification using a digital verification tool. Here’s more information on certifying documents.

5. When we call you, we'll make sure you know it's actually us
If you get a call from us and you’re unsure it’s actually us, don’t be afraid to let us know. We’ll ask you to go to our website, find our phone number and give us a call back. You can then ask for the person who originally called you and we’ll put you straight through. Note: we will never give you our web address or phone number as scammers often try to give you fake information so you contact them instead of us.

EXAMPLE: Our website is teamsuper.com. A scammer might give you a web address such as team_super.com. It looks the same but it isn’t. You’ll then find a phone number which isn’t ours, and you’re likely to now be scammed.

  • Suspicious activity alerts – we’ll tell you if there’s been unusual activity on your account (for example, large benefit payment requests, etc)

  • Secure communication – our written correspondence will never include irrelevant personal information, like your date of birth, to protect your privacy.

  • Session timeout – if you’re logged in to your super account online and haven’t used it for a while, your session will automatically time out after 20 minutes to prevent unauthorised access.

  • Transaction monitoring. regularly monitor transactions to identify unusual large or complex transactions and / or unexpected patterns of transactions that don’t seem to have a legitimate purpose. We also report suspicious matters to AUSTRAC. These flagged transactions will be reviewed and escalated if required.

For more information on how we protect your information, read our Privacy Policy and Privacy Collection Notice.



HAVE YOU BEEN SCAMMED?

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY ON YOUR ACCOUNT? Call us immediately if you're worried about the security of your Team Super account or think you’ve been scammed or about to be scammed.

If you've lost money from your super to a scam or given out your account or personal details to a scammer, you're unlikely to get your money back. However, there are steps you can take straight away to limit the damage and protect yourself from further loss.

1. Firstly, change the password on your Online Account. This will help put a stop on further transactions.

2. Contact us to report the scam and stop any transactions to prevent further losses. We can lock your account so no payments can be made and help you strengthen the security on your account.

3. Visit Scamwatch for tips on what to do if you’ve been scammed.

4. Contact IDCARE for help. They can help you respond to data breaches, scams, identity theft, and cyber security concerns.

5. Watch out for follow up scams. If you’ve lost money to a scam, they often come back for more, so remain vigilant. Also check your other financial accounts such as bank accounts, credit cards, etc.

6. Get emotional support. It’s important to reach out to family, friends or even a professional for emotional support if you’ve experienced a scam.


IDENTITY FRAUD

Identity fraud occurs when a person uses a stolen identity to obtain credit, goods or other services fraudulently. This can happen if the person acquires sensitive information, such as credit card details, date of birth, mother’s maiden name or passwords.

USEFUL LINKS

It pays to keep up to date with online threats

Here’s some official websites dedicated to providing Australians with the most up-to-date advice and tips on protecting themselves from the latest scams and threats.