fbpx
Skip to main content
Financial Assistance Hub

Optus data-sharing to help protect customers

Optus data-sharing to help protect customers

6 October 2022

Australian banks welcome the Federal Government’s decision to allow Optus to share government identity information compromised in the Optus data breach.

Banks will be able to request and use the information in their ongoing efforts to fight financial crime.

Since the Optus data breach became public, banks have focused on the potential for the data to be used to perpetuate frauds, scams and other illegal activities.

“The whole industry has worked closely with the Australian Government to make today’s regulations possible.”

ABA Chair & CEO Westpac, Peter King

The Federal Government’s action is a timely and valuable measure that will contribute to banks’ efforts.

Banks invest heavily in systems to protect customers and the financial system, including significant investment towards building resilience including against frauds and scams.

Chair of the Australian Banking Association and CEO of Westpac, Peter King said, “The whole industry has worked closely with the Australian Government to make today’s regulations possible.”

He added, “The data-sharing will help us to combat fraud and scams, keep customers safe, and limit the long-term risks presented by the Optus data breach.”

“It’s important that customers remain on the lookout for scammers in the wake of the Optus data breach,” he said.

Bank customers are encouraged to:

  • Look out for any suspicious or unexpected activity across your online accounts, including your telco, bank and utilities accounts. Make sure to report any suspicious activity in your bank account immediately to your financial institution;
  • Do not click on any links in any email or SMS claiming to be from Optus;
  • If someone calls claiming to be from Optus, police, bank or another organisation and offers to help you with the data breach, consider hanging up and contacting the organisation on its official contact details. This can be a scammer calling using your personal information.
  • Never click on any links that look suspicious and never provide your passwords, your bank’s one time pins, or any personal or financial information, and.
  • If people call posing as a credible organisation and request access to your computer, always say no.

Customers of Optus are encouraged to visit their website for latest updates and advice on replacing identification documents.


Protect yourself by using PayID


Latest news

1 / 3
Transcript
Interview with ABC Sydney Drive on HELP debts and lending  
13 February 2025

Chris Bath (Host): What’s been your experience of getting finance to buy a house while you’re juggling your HECS HELP debt? Still finding it hilarious actually, that the word help even features in university debt acronyms, but that’s a whole other can of worms. You might have heard the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, out and about… Read more »

Read more
Media Releases
Australia taking world first approach in war against scammers
13 February 2025

Banks welcome the passage today of critical scam fighting legislation to better protect Australians and help drive financial losses down even further. This new Scam Prevention Framework and the industry codes that will follow for banks, telcos and digital platforms are crucial in ongoing efforts to scam-proof Australia. ABA CEO Anna Bligh said Australia was leading the… Read more »

Read more
Transcript
Interview on 6PR Breakfast on HELP debts and lending
12 February 2025

Karl Langdon (Host): Anna Bligh is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Banking Association. Australians with Student Help debts to the tune of $43 billion, $3 million Aussies have outstanding help loans, Milsy. Steve Mills (Host): So, when you apply for a loan, you have to put it down as a liability, and the… Read more »

Read more