Protecting your super against fraud
Superannuation funds have always been a temptation for criminals, and recently we’ve seen a rise in superannuation scams with identity theft one being one of the biggest risks.
Identity fraud
Identity fraud can start with someone stealing your personal information and creating false documents in an attempt to access your account while impersonating you.
Phishing scams
Phishing scams, whereby emails or text messages are sent to trick you into handing over your personal or financial account details, are another way scammers attempt to collect your personal information or gain access to your online accounts. You should be wary of giving confidential information to anyone via email or over the phone.
Where possible, add an additional layer of security to your email account by enabling multi-factor authentication.
Many of these scammers and cyber criminals can be cunning and highly organised, so the key is to be on your guard and ensure the security of your online accounts.
ESSSuper recommends that you always use a strong unique password for each online site you visit.
How ESSSuper helps prevent fraud
ESSSuper helps to prevent fraud with a range of measures to protect you including;
- Omitting unnecessary personal information, like your date of birth, in correspondence to you,
- Contacting you to verify the legitimacy of a change to your personal or contact details, if we are suspicious about the request,
- Monitoring benefit payment and transfer requests to detect those that may be fraudulent,
- Contacting you to verify the legitimacy of benefit payment or transfer requests, if we are suspicious about the request,
- Training our staff to identify fraudulent requests and activity,
- Putting security measures in place to reduced the risk of unauthorised access to confidential data and documents, and
- Having strict proof of identity measures in place
If you call ESSSuper, we will ask you some questions so that we can verify your identity. We may also call you to confirm your personal details if they are different to what you have provided to the ATO for example. However, we will never contact you to ask you for the login details for your super account. You should never share your ESSSuper or myGov account details with anyone who contacts you.
Not sure if it's from us?
ESSSuper uses a range of ways to communicate with members including email, text message, direct mail and outbound calling. If you’re unsure if a communicate you’re receiving is genuine you can contact us on 1300 650 161 for Emergency services members and 1300 655 476 for State super members between 8.30am and 5.30pm Monday – Friday (Melbourne time). If in doubt, don’t click – call us instead.
If a phone call from someone claiming to work for ESSSuper arouses your suspicions, check with us on 1300 650 161 for Emergency services members and 1300 655 476 for State super members to confirm the enquiry is legitimate before giving out any information.
Tips to protect your super and online account
While ESSSuper has a range of security measures in place to protect your money, there’s also a few things you can do to help keep your super safe such as:
- Keep your ESSSuper Member Online login details secret and don’t give it to anyone over the phone, or in an email. ESSSuper will never ask you to disclose your password.
- Use a long unique strong password or pass-phrase for each online account or service.
- Do not reuse the same password on multiple sites.
- Consider using a password management tool to generate and store your secure passwords
- Do not access your online super account on public computers or networks, such as internet cafes or libraries.
- Securing your postal mail and keeping an eye out for missing mail.
- Keeping your computer and phone software up to date.
- Look out for your annual statement, which is usually sent to you via your preferred channel from September. And monitor your financial and super accounts regularly online or via the ESSSuper mobile app
- Review all correspondence from ESSSuper to note any changes to your account. If you receive notification of a change to your details that was not authorised by you please contact ESSSuper to notify us as soon as possible.
- Advise us if any of your personal documents like your passport or drivers licence are lost or stolen, your phone has been stolen, or your computer/email account has been compromised.
- Store your ESSSuper statements and other personal documents in a secure location.
- Securely destroy or shred any unnecessary documents that contain your personal information.
- Collect your mail on a daily basis and make sure your mailbox is secure.
- Do not click on any links in unsolicited email without first verifying their legitimacy.
- Take steps to protect your phone and email accounts. This can include such precautions as securing your phone by enforcing a password, PIN, fingerprint or facial scan to unlock, and enabling multi-factor authentication on your email account.
For more information on identity crime, including how to protect your identity and where to go for help if you think your identity has been compromised, visit ASIC’s Moneysmart Identity Fraud page.
If you notice unusual transactions on your account please contact us immediately on 1300 650 161 for Emergency services members and1300 655 476 for State super members.
By working together and following these simple measures, we can reduce the likelihood of fraud and help protect your super.
We're here to help
We're proud to be the dedicated, not-for-profit super fund serving Victorian emergency services and state employees. With exclusive products and services, we exist to provide better retirement outcomes for members like you.
We aim to help every member achieve a comfortable and financially secure life in retirement through consistent investment performance that delivers above-average returns over the long term.
If you have any questions, please email info@esssuper.com.au with ‘MSC’ at the start of the subject line, or alternatively please call our Member Service Centre on 1300 650 161 and we’ll be happy to help.