Phishing scams that pretend to be very reputable companies - BEWARE!!
Sophisticated fraudsters are targeting Australian investors with investment 'phishing' scams. Find out what to watch out for so you can avoid being caught up in one.
We recently drew attention to a new type of scam where sophisticated fraudsters, pretending to work for real companies, are targeting Australian investors with fake investment products.
Our Smart Investing article followed a warning in late January from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) about the rise of "imposter bond" investment offers that claim to deliver secure, high-yield returns.
The fraudsters have designed professional looking fake websites using real company logos, to capture personal information such as phone, email and bank details.
They then make contact directly and offer to email a fake investment prospectus document in order to trick people into investing their money.
Vanguard branded phishing scam
Phishing is the term used to describe fraudulent attempts to illegally obtain sensitive information or data, usually via fake websites or emails.
Vanguard has now become aware of a phishing campaign being operated through a fraudulent comparison website that's targeting people online. The website includes a fake investment offer from Vanguard.
People providing personal contact information are then being phoned, with the caller offering to email a pretend Vanguard prospectus.
We're alerting people to this scam via our websites and investor portal, through our phone support, and advising anyone impacted on steps to take if you've shared any personal information.
Vanguard's IT security systems have not been compromised in any way by this issue and our priority is to warn investors of the scam and assist those who have been impacted.
If you suspect you've transferred any money to a third party in relation to this scam you should immediately contact police, and contact your bank to stop direct debit transactions if you've shared any banking details.
It's also important to alert major credit bureaus such as Equifax and Experian to place a block on your credit profile to stop others from opening accounts using your personal information.
Our teams are working closely with authorities and industry partners to identify and remove the bogus website and to provide information from official sources, such as the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission's ScamWatch, on how to stay safe online.
What to watch out for
Some of the common tactics being used by the "imposter bond" scammers include:
- Using the contact details gathered online through fake investment comparison websites to call people and pressure them to invest or risk missing out.
- Sending professional looking fake prospectuses with unrealistically high returns.
- Falsely stating the bonds are issued by prominent financial services firms when this is not true and there is no underlying investment.
- Falsely claiming investor funds will be pooled to invest in government bonds or the bonds of companies with AAA credit ratings.
- Falsely claiming the purchase price of the bonds is protected under the Commonwealth Government's Financial Claims Scheme.
How to avoid investment scams
As noted in our previous article, just taking a few basic precautions will go a long way to ensuring you don't get caught up in a scam.
Ignore all unsolicited approaches to invest in a financial product, even if they come via people pretending to be from a well-known company or a government authority.
Keep in mind that Vanguard never sends email or text messages with clickable links asking you to verify or provide personal information such as your account or login details.
There are many ways to greatly reduce your chances of ever being tempted into a scam.
- Ensure any promotional investment emails you receive, even from companies you already invest with, are legitimate.
- If in any doubt over a company's bona fides, check that its website is displaying a genuine Australian Business Number and an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) number. These details can be checked directly using ASIC's online search registers.
- Don't ever click on links or open attachments in emails unless you are completely certain of the authenticity of the sender.
- You can easily verify website addresses by searching a company (without clicking on an email link), and by checking contact details through legitimate online information sources.
- Never respond to messages, calls or emails that ask for any personal information or financial details. ASIC advises people to just hang up on callers attempting to interest you in investments, and to delete any suspicious emails.
- Types of approaches can be investment cold calls from bogus portfolio managers or real estate agents pretending to promote share investments or property schemes, or to offer financial advice.
- Don't fall for approaches to investment seminars designed to promote "exclusive" opportunities offering high returns. These can be straight scams, or involve very high-risk investment products or schemes.
- Be on the alert for superannuation scams offering to give you early access to your super funds. Accessing superannuation is subject to strict conditions governed by federal legislation.
- Lastly, if an investment offer sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't legitimate.
The ScamWatch website should be your first port of call to check out everything to do with investment scams, including news and alerts of current activities.
Also check ASIC's extensive Moneysmart list of companies you should not deal with.
By Tony Kaye, Senior Personal Finance Writer, Vanguard Australia
16 Mar, 2021
vanguard.com.au
Latest Newsletters
Hot Issues
- Aged care report goes to the heart of Australia’s tax debate
- Removed super no longer protected from creditors: court
- ATO investigating 16.5k SMSFs over valuation compliance
- The 2025 Financial Year Tax & Super Changes You Need to Know!
- Investment and economic outlook, March 2024
- The compounding benefits from reinvesting dividends
- Three things to consider when switching your super
- Oldest Buildings in the World.
- Illegal access nets $637 million
- Trustee decisions are at their own discretion: expert
- Regular reviews and safekeeping of documents vital: expert
- Latest stats back up research into SMSF longevity and returns: educator
- Investment and economic outlook, February 2024
- Planning financially for a career break
- Could your SMSF do with more diversification?
- Countries producing the most solar power by gigawatt hours
- Labor tweaks stage 3 tax cuts to make room for ‘middle Australia’
- Quarterly reporting regime means communication now paramount: expert
- Plan now to take advantage of 5-year carry forward rule: expert
- Why investors are firmly focused on interest rates
- Super literacy low for cash-strapped
- Four timeless principles for investing success
- Investment and economic outlook, January 2024
- Wheat Production by Country
- Time to start planning for stage 3 tax cuts: technical manager
- Millions of Australians lose by leaving savings in default MySuper funds
- Vanguard economic and market outlook for 2024: A return to sound money
- An investment year of ups and downs
- How to tame the market's skewness
- The Countries that Export the Most Wine in the World
- Tips for preparing for the best tax outcomes
Article archive
- October - December 2023
- July - September 2023
- April - June 2023
- January - March 2023
- October - December 2022
- July - September 2022
- April - June 2022
- January - March 2022
- October - December 2021
- July - September 2021
- April - June 2021
- January - March 2021
- October - December 2020
- July - September 2020
- April - June 2020
- January - March 2020
- October - December 2019
- July - September 2019
- April - June 2019
- January - March 2019
- October - December 2018
- July - September 2018
- April - June 2018
- January - March 2018
- October - December 2017
- July - September 2017
- April - June 2017
- January - March 2017
- October - December 2016
- July - September 2016
- April - June 2016
- January - March 2016
- October - December 2015
- July - September 2015
- April - June 2015
April - June 2021 archive
- End of year financial strategies
- Budget 2021: Retirement Outcomes
- Videos to help understand financial planning topics.
- SMSFs still on top for member satisfaction
- Understanding home downsizing and super contributions
- ATO issues final warnings on outstanding SARs
- New SMSF quarterly statistics highlight continued post-COVID recovery
- Budget measures designed to give retirees control in increasingly ‘opaque’ super environment
- Federal Budget 2021 - Overview
- Building a more secure and resilient Australia
- Federal Budget 2021 - Health
- Asset allocations still hold the key
- Why Australian households are getting richer
- Dealing with compliance complexities impacting overseas SMSF property
- SMSFs flagged on Div 7A relief implications from ATO’s updated guidance
- SMSF Association clarifies NALI issues around pension phase assets
- 5 strategies for successful ‘work from home’ policies
- A new crypto world is emerging - the non-fungible token
- Retirees aren’t sitting on their super: ASFA
- COVID crash: one year on
- Phishing scams that pretend to be very reputable companies - BEWARE!!
- ATO releases updated guidance on LRBA and Division 7A interaction
- Understanding the coming super balance cap changes
- A broad range of Calculators.