NAB said it is halting the use of links in unexpected texts to customers as part of a major crackdown against scams and fraud.
Last year, NAB sent 112 million text messages to customers, many of which contained links intending to notify them of things like when an account is about to be overdrawn or a new debit card has been posted.
NAB is now 95% through the process of removing the use of links in unexpected text messages, with the project to be completed by the end of July. Instead of the links, text messages will now include advice directing customers to the bank’s website, to call the bank, or head to internet banking or the NAB app, to take a specific action.
NAB CEO Ross McEwan said the bank’s aim was to make it simple for customers to know whether a message from NAB is legitimate.
“My advice is don’t click on a link. If you get an unexpected text message that looks like it’s from NAB and it contains a link, don’t click on it,” McEwan said. “We want to make it as hard as possible for these criminals to steal money from hard-working Australians.”
This latest move from NAB follows the bank’s move to stop infiltrating phone numbers and spoofing scams by working together with telecommunication providers – an initiative that has delivered a 29% reduction in reports of NAB-branded spoofing scams this year.
McEwan called for a “Team Australia” approach across business sectors, government and the community to tackle scams.
“We welcome the government’s focus in this area through initiatives like the establishment of the National Anti-Scam Centre and a new SMS registry,” he said.
Already, the action NAB has taken on spoofing and its introduction of proactive payments alerts to digital banking have yielded positive results, McEwan said, adding that the bank “won’t stop there.”
“While we’re doing whatever we can, these scammers are part of transnational, organised crime gangs and will always look for new ways to rip people off,” he said. “That’s why we continue to encourage all Australians to stay alert, curious, and educated.”
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