One of Australia’s biggest banks had pledged to remove all links from text messages to customers in a new bid to cut down on the number of Aussies impacted by scams.
National Australia Bank today said it was 95 per cent through the process of removing all links from unexpected text messages to customers, with the project to be complete by the end of the month.
Last year NAB sent 112 million text messages to customers, many of which contained links intending to helpfully notify customers of things like when an account is about to be overdrawn or a new debit card has been posted.
CEO Ross McEwan said removing links from text messages would mean the bank could with all certainty tell customers which were official messaging from the bank – and which weren’t.
”Our aim is to make it as simple as we can for customers to know whether a message from NAB is legitimate,” he said.
“My advice is don’t click on a link. If you get an unexpected text message that looks like it’s from NAB and it contains a link, don’t click on it.”
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Official text messages from the bank will now include advice directing customers to the bank’s website or to an official phone number.
Text messages from Ubank, JBWere or Citi Consumer Bank are not currently included.
NAB has advised that in some circumstances customers may still receive a link – such as domestic violence or hardship support for a vulnerable customer – “where other channels of communication may not be possible or appropriate”.
If you receive this text, don’t click the link
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