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Support / CommBank Safe / Job scams

What's a job scam?

  • Job scammers lure you in with jobs that require little effort for a high financial reward, and that appear to make money quickly.

    Scammers will typically advertise on social media or legitimate employments sites. They might even contact you directly, through email, encrypted chat applications, over the phone or in a letter. 

    You might be asked to pay a fee in exchange for guaranteed employment. Once you pay the fee, you're unlikely to be paid for any work you complete, and may not receive any job offers.

    Scammers may ask you to provide your bank account details or your PayID to receive a payment. You may then be asked to transfer the money received to another bank account or cryptocurrency exchange - often with a promise to receive a percentage as a commission or wage. This is known as money muling, and is often facilitating the transfer of illegal and likely stolen funds.

Protect yourself from job scams 

Remember if anything feels odd; Stop, Check, and then if it’s not legitimate, Reject.

If you find a potential job scam hosted on a job platform, you can also report the job advert on the platform, to help others avoid falling victim to it.

Protect yourself from job scams 

Remember if anything feels odd; Stop, Check, and then if it’s not legitimate, Reject.

If you find a potential job scam hosted on a job platform, you can also report the job advert on the platform, to help others avoid falling victim to it.

How to avoid being scammed

  • Keep an eye out for these common signs of a scam

    • The job offer is advertised online, on social media or via encrypted chat applications
    • You’re contacted about a job where you can earn money quick. No experience is required
    • The hiring process is very quick
    • You may be told that to secure the job you must make an initial investment or pay for resources. You’ll unlikely receive anything in exchange for your payment
    • You’re offered money or incentives for transferring funds using your personal accounts, rather than the companies directly
    • You're asked to sign up to cryptocurrency platforms or provide your online banking details
    • If money is transferred to you, the credit into your account does not match the hiring company or sender’s name

  • Protect yourself

    • Be wary of job offers via social media, encypted chat, email, phone or letter from people you haven’t met or companies you don’t know
    • Stay alert when looking on legitimate job sites as they can also post bogus employment vacancies. Do some research on the company offering the role to ensure they are legitimate and currently trading
    • Be cautious of opportunities that offer a 'guaranteed income' or require you to make a payment in exchange for work
    • Be suspicious if the role is offered to you without an interview, or at least a discussion about your experience and suitability
    • Speak to your friends and family to get their opinion on your potential job offer. They can help identify any signs of risk and red flags 
    • If it appears too good to be true, it probably is. It's highly unlikely a legitimate company would require you to make an advance payment or use your personal banking information to facilitate company funds or trade

Think you've been scammed?

Message us immediately if you're worried about the security of your account. Our virtual assistant Ceba can help you lock your card or securely connect you to a specialist. 

How to message us

Get help

Been scammed? What next?

  • Get in touch

    If you (or someone you know) is a CommBank customer and has been targeted or lost money as a result of being scammed, contact us.

    Report it

    Report the scam via the Australian Cyber Security Centre. Reports may be referred to the police for possible investigation.

    Take control and stay protected

    Change your passwords and PINs straight away if you suspect your security has been compromised. Change these regularly as a preventative measure. If you’re concerned your device still has malware, take it to IT to have it checked. 

    Seek support

    Contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160. IDCARE is a free, government-funded service that provides support to victims of identity crime.

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