Staying Scam-Savvy in 2025

As we move further towards the new tomorrow, our collective tech priorities should be around fortifying our digital defenses against the ever-evolving world of scams. While increased awareness is making a dent in scam success rates, complacency is a dangerous enemy. It's time for a security check-up to identify any weak spots that scammers might exploit.

​Here's a handy guide to five habits that can help you stay one step ahead of the scammers:

1. Master Your Passwords: If you're still using the same old password across multiple accounts, now's the time for an upgrade. Strong passwords or passkeys should be a complex mix of at least 14 characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols. Consider using a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or NordPass to generate and securely store strong, unique passwords for all your accounts. And crucially, always enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever it's offered for an extra layer of security.  

2. Sharpen Your Scam Radar: Scammers are becoming incredibly skilled at impersonating trusted organizations like banks or government departments. Be extra cautious of unexpected emails or social media messages asking for your information or urging you to download software. Remember the mantra: stop, check, protect. Take a moment to breathe, independently verify the communication by contacting the organization directly through official channels, and then block and delete any suspicious messages. Be particularly careful when sending money to new accounts. Features like CommBank's NameCheck can help by verifying account details before your first payment.

3. Practice Good Banking Hygiene: Your banking app likely has built-in security features – use them! CommBank's Security check up, for example, allows you to manage location-based security, which alerts the bank to unusual account access locations. Review and enable security alerts for suspicious activity notifications. Regularly check and adjust your daily payment limits to match your typical spending habits. Keeping limits higher than necessary increases your potential loss if your account is compromised.

4. Check In With Your Circle: Scammers often thrive on isolation. A simple way to stay safe is to regularly check in with friends and family. As a spokesperson for the National Anti-Scam Centre points out, "Everyone is vulnerable to scams at certain times, such as dating and romance scams after a breakup or a job scam when the cost of living is high. Scammers isolate you from your support networks. They want to create a situation where you rely entirely on them." Talking about potential scams can help you and your loved ones identify red flags.

5. Report Every Scam Encounter: Even if you haven't lost money, reporting scams is crucial. By reporting incidents to the National Anti-Scam Centre via scamwatch.gov.au, you provide valuable information that helps them understand scam tactics, identify vulnerable populations, and work on disrupting and stopping these criminal activities. As their spokesperson says, "Your reports help the National Anti-Scam Centre identify the scams that are causing the most harm to Australians."
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