We have been alerted that some members of the public have been targeted by fraudulent activity, seeking personal information.
'Phishing' emails have been received, that link to a hoax website which has been illegally designed to look like an AGL website, requesting entry of personal credit card information.
Similarly, phone calls have been received from people illegally representing that they are from AGL regarding false energy offers, including large discounts on bills, also seeking personal credit card information.
Please be advised, AGL is not sending emails asking for personal banking information. Nor are we making phone calls regarding 40% discounted offers (or similar heavily discounted offers), or offering discounts in return for bill payments, and requesting credit card information over the phone.
If you receive an email asking you to use a link in the email and enter personal information online, please ignore the email.
If you receive a phone call regarding an energy offer with large energy discounts, and requiring your credit card information over the phone, please ignore it.
If you have already provided your details via a website or over the phone, and believe you may have been a victim of fraud, please contact your financial institution immediately.
If you have any concerns or you are unsure if you have been targeted, please contact us on 131 245 for further advice.
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Phishing and hoax emails
‘Phishing’ is a technique used to obtain personal details (especially financial details) online. Through these types of emails, the perpetrators deceive customers into providing personal information online by linking to fake websites that resemble those of legitimate companies.
Hoax emails can often be identified by:
- Spelling errors and poor grammar
- Links to websites that are unusual, or not what you would normally expect
- Requests that are ‘urgent’ or ask for your help.
Keep in mind that hoax emails can be highly sophisticated and can appear legitimate, even when they are not.
Online security tips
- Delete any emails you feel are suspicious, and be wary of emails from addresses you don’t recognise or trust.
- Never click on a link or an attachment within an email from an email address you don’t recognise or trust.
- Don’t provide any of your personal information via emails, such as credit card details, login details etc.
- Consider using virus scanning software on your emails before you open them.
General tips for avoiding fraud
- Be careful of offers or deals that require capture of your personal details (such as a credit card number). Assess the situation, and take the time to evaluate its authenticity.
- If you receive a request for personal information over the phone, consider hanging up, and looking up the phone number of the company in question via an independent directory such as the Yellow Pages.
- If you are provided with a phone number to call as part of an unsolicited request, it may also be fraudulent. Again, consider looking up the company’s contact details via an independent directory to verify.
- If you receive an unsolicited text message from a number you don’t recognise, don’t reply.
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