ANZ urges customers to stay safe online this Mother’s Day

Apia, SAMOA – 07 May 2024 – With online scams remaining a significant threat, ANZ is urging customers to remember the signs of online shopping scams in the lead-up to Mother’s Day.

ANZ Regional Executive Pacific, Sarah Stubbings, said: “It’s important to be aware that online criminals are preying on people’s generosity around special events such as Mother’s Day, with fake links to legitimate-appearing websites, travel and holiday deals and marketplace listings on social media.

“If a product or service is being advertised with unusually low prices, do some more research and compare it to the retailers’ website, to ensure it is real.

“As we often say, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is,” Ms Stubbings said.

Tips to avoid an online shopping scams:

• Be wary of clicking links on social media as they may direct you to a fake site to mine your personal information.
• Always check the URL of a link by hovering over it and do independent research if possible.
• Search for independent reviews of an online seller to ensure legitimacy, particularly if it’s a brand or site you haven’t seen before.
• Be wary of uncommon payment methods, such as direct transfers or gift card payment when shopping online.

“If ANZ customers are concerned that they may have responded to or acted on a scam compromising their personal details, they should contact ANZ immediately. We’re here to help,” Ms Stubbings said.