ANZ Cook Islands is encouraging customers to remain hyper-vigilant against scams this Mother’s Day, urging families to have an open conversation with each other to ensure they know how to spot the warning signs.

In particular, the bank is reminding people to be wary of fraudulent text messages or calls from ‘loved ones’ claiming to need urgent financial help.

Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, using text messages, social media, and phone calls to impersonate others. ANZ Cook Islands country head Jason Murray advises regular family check-ins to stay informed about evolving scam tactics.

“As scam tactics advance, recognising warning signs is crucial,” Murray said in a statement.

Families should also be wary of online shopping scams when buying Mother’s Day gifts, as scammers often exploit peak retail periods. Look out for red flags like inconsistent contact information, unusually low prices, or deals that seem too good to be true.

Taking a moment to pause and think before responding to anything, especially requests for money or information, is crucial in avoiding scams.

“Remember, ANZ will never contact customers asking for their account details or their log in details for ANZ Internet Banking or the ANZ Pacific App, and we will never ask customers to click on a link,” Murray said.

“Be extra diligent - if something doesn’t seem right, or is unexpected, question it.”

Warning signs of impersonation scams and how to avoid them:

• Unknown contact: Cybercriminals may send messages from unknown numbers claiming to be loved ones who urgently need help. This is a tactic to put pressure on victims to send money or sensitive information. Always independently verify where the message is coming from by contacting the source via a method you already trust.
• Unexpected contact: If a phone call or message from a ‘loved one’ is unexpected or strange behaviour for this person, stop to verify their identity independently.
• Urgent action: If a scammer is urgently requesting payment and asking a victim not to tell anybody, this could also be a sign the call is a scam. Slow down, take a moment to check if the message is legitimate, and if in doubt, do not send any funds.

Warning signs of online shopping scams and how to avoid them:

• Inconsistent domains: Cybercriminals may use email and website domains that appear similar to the legitimate sender. Compare the domains to the company’s official domain online.
• Uncommon payment methods: Fake sites may ask for unsecure methods of payment such as direct transfers or gift card payments when shopping online.
• Overly positive reviews: Search for independent reviews of an online trader to ensure legitimacy, particularly if the brand is unfamiliar to you.

According to the statement, ANZ employs a range of measures to help detect and prevent scams and fraud, and the bank continually refine their capabilities to respond to emerging threats and changing criminal tactics. ‌ANZ is also focused on helping customers learn about the ways to detect and prevent scams and fraud.

• Be wary of unexpected messages or calls that ask you to click on a link, download a file, or provide remote access. Never follow through with these requests without verifying the sender. 
• ‌Research any apps before you download to triple-check that they are not malware (software that is specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system).
• ‌Avoid using public Wi-Fi, as malware can easily spread across public networks.
• ‌Use multi-factor authentication on all of your accounts.
• ‌Ensure all devices and security software is up to date.
• ‌Customers can check the latest scams on our security alerts page at www.anz.com. This includes alerting ANZ customers to the risk of malware infection.