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Knowing how to store your money and personal belongings safely and securely could help you avoid the common travel risks of petty theft, robbery, or ATM tampering. Prep before you leave: Opening a Savings Account with incentives to exchange points for accommodation or flights on your next trip. Having a credit or debit card handy may help add convenience to your trip, as it could eliminate the need for carrying large amounts of hard cash. Before departing, it is a good idea to notify your bank of your plans to travel abroad. Inform them of the dates you’ll be overseas and the specific dates you’ll be in each country if you plan to travel to multiple locations. In the case of emergencies, travel insurance while overseas could be worth the investment. Protect your valuables: Keep your money in multiple places. Do not leave your valuables unattended, and consider keeping your wallet or physical cash in your front pockets wherever possible. Only use reputable ATMs. Our local team are here to help. If you need assistance ahead of planning an overseas trip, we’re a phone call away.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), over half (55%) of all Australians aged 15 and over were exposed to a scam during 2020-21. At GMCU, we’re committed to keeping you and your money safe online. Which of the below are you doing to keep yourself safe? 1. Download the GMCU App Download the GMCU App and register using your Internet Banking login details. 2. Set up secure logins Set up your 4-9 digit PIN, pattern login, Touch ID (for Touch ID compatible iOS devices), or Face ID (for Face ID compatible devices). 3. Set up alerts Always use secure mail when using the GMCU App. Your mobile device is a way of accessing GMCU Internet Banking, so don’t keep your login information with your mobile device. Contact GMCU immediately if you’ve lost your mobile device or feel someone may know your login details. Ensure you log out of the app when you are finished. You can do this by tapping the padlock icon in the top right-hand corner. 4. Use new and private logins only Always ensure your GMCU App is up to date, consider setting up automatic updates on your phone. 5. Make sure your devices are secure Make sure you have passwords or biometric logins (like fingerprint, or Face ID) to your devices. And don't share passwords to your devices if you can avoid it. 6. Never send your credit card details online Never send your credit card details online, to anyone. 7. If you suspect something is fraudulent - act fast We use an Australian-based service to monitor unusual account activity 24/7. This monitoring helps us to detect and stop fraud quickly. If you receive a message asking you to return a call to us on 1300 705 750, please do so. If you receive an SMS text asking to confirm a transaction, please respond to it. 8. Understand more about scams and fraud Learn more about scams and fraud, and how to spot them (via Scamwatch from the Australian Government). Our local team are here to help. If you have any questions relating to scams or fraud, or perhaps you have concerns, please call us or visit your local branch.

As more cyber attacks and data breaches make the news, you may wonder how this could affect you. Personal information falling into the hands of scammers can make you a target of increasingly sophisticated and convincing scams. If scammers are armed with personal information, it makes it easier for them to find and target you with personalised scam attempts. You may be experiencing an increased number of scam calls or messages, some of which may include your personal information to sound more legitimate. Examples of Scams: A text from scammers claiming to be a streaming service or subscription asking you to click a link to update your card details. A message claiming you have unpaid tolls or fines, urging you to click a link to make payment. "Hi, Mum" messages from scammers impersonating family members. These start as a casual conversation, telling you they have broken or lost their phone and asking you to remove their old number from your phone. They will generally converse casually before asking for money to help pay a bill or other urgent expense. It can be tempting to follow your first instinct, click a link to check an overdue fine, or send money to help a family member in need, but it's important to take a moment to think about the situation. Instead of clicking a potentially harmful link to update your card details, you could log into your streaming service through the official website and review your details there. You could also simply call your family member on their usual phone number to verify whether they have lost their phone. Protect yourself and stay informed. If you have any concerns that you may have received a suspicious call or text, clicked on a suspicious link, or provided your personal information to a scammer, please contact your local branch as soon as possible. As another layer of protection, GMCU has an internal fraud department and an external card and NPP monitoring team that will assist with monitoring any suspicious transactions. Our local team are here to help. If you have any questions relating to scams or fraud, or perhaps you have concerns, please call us or visit your local branch.