Online security

Helping you to stay safe online

We place the highest priority on your online security; however you need to take some basic precautions when using the Internet and banking online, to protect your identity, your information and your finances.

What should I do if I've fallen victim to fraud on my BOQ Specialist account?

What we are doing to protect you

We place the highest priority on the confidentiality and security of your financial information and transactions and are constantly reviewing our infrastructure and security measures, such as firewalls and encryption technology to ensure they’re up to date and meet our stringent security requirements.

What you need to do to protect yourself

To stay secure, please read the following recommendations for best practice online security options:

Secure your online email account

If you use a public email account such as Gmail, Yahoo, MSN or Live, activate two-factor authentication on the service. This simple, free service prevents fraud by sending you a special code via SMS to your every time you log in. This protects your email and the sometimes vast personal information stored in your historic mail.

Install a personal firewall product

Hackers can infect home computers by connecting to your computer while you’re surfing the internet. The best way to protect your computer from unauthorised connections from the internet is to install a personal firewall. There are several options on the market, some of which are free. The firewall sits between your computer and the internet and acts as a security guard, restricting what can enter and leave your computer.

Regularly use an antivirus product, and keep it updated

These products can also scan for spyware and adware.

The most common way to receive a virus is through an attachment to an email. Attachments may appear to be word documents, spreadsheets or pictures but often contain malicious viruses. If you use email at home, you should use an anti-virus product to protect yourself and never open an attachment that has not come from a trusted source.

There are many anti-virus products and some are available for home users free of charge.

The anti-virus product should also be scheduled to scan your computer regularly in order to detect and clean out any viruses.

Do not open unsolicited emails with attachments

These may contain a virus. Also, if you receive an unwanted email saying "reply to unsubscribe", ignore it. Senders can use this to confirm your email address is valid - and are then likely to send you more emails.

Review your “Sent items” folder

If it contains messages that have been sent without your knowledge, your computer may have a virus or may have been compromised

Update your operating system (Windows, Mac) and browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari)

Make sure your computer software has all the necessary security updates available from the vendor. It’s best to ensure this is done automatically.

Ensure no one has unauthorised access to your computer.

Destroy or delete anything containing login details or security information. Even if we sent it to you.

Never email, write down or tell someone your security information or logon details.

The only time you will ever need to enter your BOQ Specialist online banking user ID, password and secret is when you log on to BOQ Specialist online banking at BOQ Specialist.com.au

Do not save login details or passwords on your computer

Disable, refuse or decline any on-screen prompt on your computer which asks if you wish the computer to remember any of your security information or logon details.

Avoid reusing the same security information

You should create and use different passwords for each service provided by us, another member of BOQ Specialist or another service provider.

Don’t leave a computer unattended while logged on to BOQ Specialist online banking

Change your passwords regularly

Avoid familiar names, numbers and places (such as birthdays and phone numbers) when you choose your passwords.

Be aware of ‘shoulder-surfers’.

Shoulder surfing refers to people who use direct observation techniques, such as looking over someone's shoulder to get information. Shoulder surfing is particularly effective in crowded places because it’s relatively easy to watch someone as they fill out a form or enter their PIN or passwords at a cash machine or while using online banking.

Protect your printed or physical information just as you would protect your valuables.

This includes statements from financial institutions, shops and utility bills. Shred or destroy any personal documents you don’t need to keep.

Identity theft

Your identity is a valuable commodity, however over 100,000 people fall victim to identity theft each year.

Identity theft is when a fraudster steals your personal or financial details, which criminals then use to impersonate you, open bank accounts, obtain credit or set up businesses.

Once your details are stolen, you could become a victim of identity fraud.

Be suspicious if you notice any of the following:

- Bills, invoices or receipts addressed to you - for goods or services you haven't ordered

- Letters from solicitors or debt collection agencies regarding debts that aren't yours

- Letters or statements for bank accounts you did not open

- Transactions appearing on your bank statements (normally withdrawals) that you don't recognise

- New accounts showing up on your credit report

- Documents like your passport, driving licence, utility bills or bank statements have gone missing

If you’ve been a victim of identity fraud you should act quickly – don’t ignore the problem. Even though you didn’t order those goods or open that bank account, the bad debts will end up under your name and address.

Counterfeit card fraud or skimming

A counterfeit card can be a fake card or a valid one that’s been altered or recoded.

Most cases of card fraud involve skimming your card’s magnetic strip and copying the data onto another card without your knowledge.

Skimming commonly occurs at retail outlets – particularly bars, restaurants and petrol stations – and at cash machines that have been illegally fitted with a skimming device. The stolen data is then used to create counterfeit cards.

Most people are unaware that they’ve fallen victim to this fraud until their statements arrive.

To protect yourself:

- Don’t leave your card with bar or restaurant staff for long periods

- Don’t let retail staff take your card away to process payments

- Check cash machines for signs of tampering before you use them

What should I do if I've fallen victim to card fraud