Rising travel scams and charity frauds amid geopolitical instability

The Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA) is urging Australians to be vigilant as scammers increasingly weaponise the instability caused by global conflicts. These bad actors are exploiting heightened emotions and travel disruptions through a range of sophisticated scams, from phantom airline websites and fraudulent social media profiles to criminals posing as charities.

“Geopolitical uncertainty creates a breeding ground for exploitation,” warned Martin Latimer, COBA Head of Financial Crimes and Cyber Resilience.

“Scammers are experts at pivoting their tactics to match the headlines, using a sense of urgency and consumer anxiety as a tool for financial gain.”

With massive flight disruptions stemming from the conflict in the Middle East, fraudsters have been launching fake social media accounts and phantom websites that mimic legitimate carriers.

“A common tactic involves a scammer sending an email or text message about a pending refund or an urgent travel update, urging you to click on a link to ‘verify’ your payment details,” Latimer explained.

“These links lead to fake airline websites designed to harvest your credentials or download malware onto your device. Never open attachments from unknown senders, even if they look legitimate, as they may contain malicious software. Instead, always go directly to the airline’s official website to check the status of a refund.”

Major airlines like Etihad have already issued public warnings, stating that they’ve identified several fake accounts posing as the brand to collect personal information. The airline emphasised that it will never request passwords, one-time codes, or payment details through social media messages.

Another common tactic scammers use is to pose as legitimate charitable organisations.

Before donating, take the time to verify the charity’s legitimacy through trusted resources like the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).

“Always check the legitimacy of a URL, look for secure payment methods, and confirm their affiliation with the genuine charity or organisation. Best practice is to only donate through the genuine website,” Martin advised.

Scammers also use phishing to harvest personal and financial data. This often takes the form of unsolicited texts, emails, or social media posts that include a link to a “donation page” which is actually a front for stealing credit card details or installing malware.

“A typical phishing attempt will urge you to click a link to ‘help now’,” Latimer said.

“These pages are designed to look identical to real non-profits, but their only goal is to capture your credentials. Never share information with unverified individuals, especially if they reached out to you first.”

Always remember to “Stop. Check. Protect”.If you encounter a potential scam, report it to ScamWatch.gov.au to help protect others. If you’ve been scammed, immediately report the transaction(s) to your bank or financial institution.

Customer-owned banks are dedicated to safeguarding their customers from scams and fraud. In November 2023, the sector demonstrated this commitment by joining forces to launch the Scam-Safe Accord with the Australian Banking Association. This industry-wide initiative represents a united front against scammers and reinforces the banking sector’s determination to strengthen consumer protection. Find out more about the Scam-Safe Accord here.