Back to: Privacy & Security

There have been a number of fraudulent emails distributed recently claiming to have been sent by Westpac or other organisations. The emails will always try and convince you to click on a link or open an attachment. Westpac would never send such a request via email.

Find out what to do if you think you have received a hoax email or clicked the link in a suspect email. Our Internet security checklist is another resource to help in the detection and prevention of online fraud.

Tip: Never supply your banking details in response to an email.

The most recent hoax email contains the following details:

See more examples of email scams.

How Westpac protects you
General banking safety tips
Our security guarantee

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) also publish an extensive consumer protection resource on their FIDO website.

If you suspect you have received one of these emails
Please delete the email from your 'Inbox', and delete it again from your 'Deleted' folder or 'Sent' folder if you have forwarded on the email. If you are using a computer in an office/corporate environment it is good practice to inform your system administrator of any suspicious emails.

If you suspect you have clicked on a link within the email
1. Perform a scan for possible viruses and Trojans using your virus protection software. If you require further information, contact your software vendor.

2. If you do not have anti-virus software, we suggest you use one of the many free tools available on the internet. Some examples you could try can be found by visiting our "Updating your software" section.
If you do not have anti-virus protection software, we recommend that you do not use Westpac Internet Banking until you have up-to-date anti-virus protection.

If you believe your security or personal information has been compromised or you notice a transaction you did not initiate, contact Telephone Banking immediately on 132 032.

If you wish to report the scam:
Please feel free to foward the hoax email to spoof@westpac.com.au as this email inbox has been set up specifically to receive and monitor suspected hoax emails. Therefore, you will not receive a reply or an acknowledgement after forwarding any such email.
Your assistance is appreciated as this allows us to respond quickly to investigate scams and minimise the chances of our customers being deceived.