logo
Big banks warn businesses of Kimberley scam cluster

Big banks warn businesses of Kimberley scam cluster

Scammers are targeting businesses in Western Australia's remote Kimberley, with multiple attempts to steal tens of thousands of dollars prompting a warning from two of Australia's major banks.
The East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry said at least four businesses in Kununurra, 3,000 kilometres north of Perth, were targeted by impersonation scams last week, with one falling victim.
Chamber chief executive Keda Bond said the organisation had received several calls from concerned family businesses.
"It's more than one bank, and it's a cluster at this stage," she said.
"It [the scam] was unfortunately successful a couple of times."
Ms Bond said one business owner recorded the deceivingly "real" fake call.
"That makes it even harder for people, especially when you're a busy business owner."
Kununurra business owner Troy Lewis received a scam call from a person claiming to work for Westpac.
Mr Lewis said the call sounded so legitimate, he thought it could have been artificial intelligence.
"I asked the type of details he [the scammer] would need and he proceeded to do a very good disclaimer saying, 'The bank would never ask for PIN numbers or passwords over the phone,'" he said.
"It sounded very official."
The trucking company owner said the call only ended when he asked the scammer for a customer reference number.
"We've got a policy to always ask for a reference number, and then we'd call the bank back directly," Mr Lewis said.
"I felt a little bit silly asking him … because it did sound very legitimate.
More than $6.5 million has been lost to telephone scammers in 2025 through hacking, identity theft, phishing and downloading remote access software, according to Scamwatch.
Out of the 9,750 reported scams, 898 have occurred in Western Australia.
NAB executive Chris Sheehan said while customers had reported a decrease in impersonation scams over recent years, the operations remained a "global epidemic" with "devastating consequences".
"This highlights the need for a coordinated, national approach to stop the crime before it happens," he said.
Westpac's fraud protection team head Ben Young said while bank scams were not new, the bank was seeing an increase in scammers targeting regional businesses.
"Obviously businesses move around large amounts of money, so it's an attractive target for them," he said.
"We do see little clusters like this where they're working through some directory that they've found."
Mr Young said scammers tweaked their operation when unsuccessful.
"They're very thick-skinned, so even though they fail most of the time, either the bank stops them or the customer notices, they have no issue with rejection and just polish their craft," he said.
Mr Young said the scammers operated as a "global business", predominantly operating from South-East Asia.
"Almost townships have been set up to run very big-scale call centres and they have huge emphasis on good English skills," he said.
Both NAB and Westpac reiterated the importance of technology and education in reducing the impact of scams on customers.
"These transnational, organised criminals run scams like a business and are the same groups linked to drug, arms and human trafficking," NAB's Mr Sheehan said.
Anyone subject to potential banking fraud should contact their bank.
Other tips include:
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

SuperCoach EPL kicks off: Premier League fantasy just got serious
SuperCoach EPL kicks off: Premier League fantasy just got serious

News.com.au

time29 minutes ago

  • News.com.au

SuperCoach EPL kicks off: Premier League fantasy just got serious

The ultimate Premier League fantasy experience is here and it's now part of the SuperCoach universe. In a landmark move that reshapes the Australian fantasy sports landscape, Sportsdeck's Dream Team EPL has merged with SuperCoach, launching a bold new era for Premier League fans under the banner of SuperCoach EPL. This exciting transformation brings together the rich heritage of Sportsdeck's fantasy football platform with the powerhouse of SuperCoach, delivering fans a deeper, smarter and more strategic way to play. Why SuperCoach EPL? This isn't just a rebrand. SuperCoach EPL takes the game to another level with 21 different scoring stats, meaning every pass, tackle and shot carries weight. From defenders who rack up clearances to midfielders who dominate possession, the expanded scoring system rewards every aspect of football intelligence. It's a new challenge for fantasy managers who thrive on detail and tactical nuance. Four ways to play SuperCoach EPL SuperCoach EPL comes with four exciting formats, all built for fans who want to take their Premier League passion to the next level. Classic: Build your squad with a £100 million salary cap and select 15 players who score every round. Draft: Take part in a live draft where each manager selects a unique team – no player can be picked twice. EPL Cup: A knockout tournament starting in Round 13, featuring the top-performing Classic managers after Round 12. Survive and advance to win bragging rights – and $500. Tipping: Back your football instincts by picking match results each round. Whether you're a fantasy pro or Premier League tragic, there's a format to suit your style. Weekly price moves and real-time strategy SuperCoach EPL introduces a dynamic player pricing system, with values shifting each week based on form. That means smart trades, value picks and early-season bolters can make or break your season. It also means strategy is always evolving. No set-and-forget line-ups here. Every round presents a new opportunity to adjust your tactics, take calculated risks and outwit your rivals. Fresh features and fierce competition Fantasy fans will love the addition of the SuperCoach Cup, a high-stakes knockout tournament offering a $500 cash prize and ultimate bragging rights. And for those navigating injuries or chasing points, the new Trade Boosts feature gives you added flexibility when it matters most. The next level is here With a sleek new design and fully integrated SuperCoach experience, SuperCoach EPL combines gameplay, stats and social rivalry like never before. Whether you're a long-time SportsDeck player or a Premier League fan new to fantasy football, this is your invitation to experience the best of both worlds – with deeper strategy, richer data and bigger rewards. SuperCoach Plus is your ultimate SuperCoach EPL companion Already a SuperCoach Plus subscriber? Then you've unlocked the full fantasy football toolkit. Gain the upper hand in your EPL league with projected player scores, the powerful Team Optimiser, Trade Assist, and exclusive stats and insights you won't find anywhere else. To explore everything SuperCoach Plus has to offer, just tap the SuperCoach Plus button in the app or on the website. Join now SuperCoach EPL is live now and free to play with prizes up for grabs – $2000 to first, $500 to second and $500 for winning the Cup. Build your squad, challenge your mates and take on the best fantasy managers in the country. Stay tuned across our SuperCoach and News Corp networks for expert tips, analysis and updates as the 2025/26 Premier League season gets underway.

Australia lifts biosecurity ban on US beef after decade-long review, aim to ease Trump tariffs
Australia lifts biosecurity ban on US beef after decade-long review, aim to ease Trump tariffs

West Australian

time32 minutes ago

  • West Australian

Australia lifts biosecurity ban on US beef after decade-long review, aim to ease Trump tariffs

Australia has opened the door to more US beef imports by lifting biosecurity restrictions, as the government seeks ways to dampen the blow from Donald Trump's tariff regime. The federal government revealed the changes on Thursday while stressing that the decision follows a decade-long science-based review. 'The Albanese Labor government will never compromise on biosecurity,' Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said. 'Australia stands for open and fair trade - our cattle industry has significantly benefited from this. '(The department) is satisfied the strengthened control measures put in place by the US effectively manage biosecurity risks.' Although the US has been able to send beef to Australia since 2019, any beef raised in Canada or Mexico before being slaughtered and processed in the US was previously barred due to biosecurity concerns. One concern was that Mexico's livestock tracking system could inadvertently lead producers to import beef from parts of the continent where there were disease outbreaks. But the latest announcement will lift the ban on beef sourced from Canada or Mexico after the US introduced more robust movement controls in late 2024 and early 2025 allowing for improved identification and tracing throughout the supply chain. The change could be used as a bargaining chip as Australia continues to push for tariff exemptions from the US after the US president earlier this year demanded Canberra lift the beef import restrictions. Australia is the biggest exporter of beef to the US. According to Bendigo Bank's recent mid-year agriculture outlook, Aussie beef will continue to be on the menu in the US, where herd numbers are in decline due to drought and increased costs of agricultural inputs. Most Australian goods sent to the US currently face a 10 per cent tariff, while steel and aluminium products have been slapped with a 50 per cent tariff. Mr Trump has also threatened a tariff on pharmaceutical imports to the US, which is one of Australia's biggest exports to its ally. Although Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is yet to secure a face-to-face meeting with Mr Trump - after their first scheduled talks were scuppered by the conflict in the Middle East - Australia has largely avoided the brunt of the tariffs as most of its exports are only exposed to the baseline levy. But other aspects of the US-Australia relationship remain uncertain. The nuclear submarine deal between Australia, the US and the UK - under the AUKUS security alliance - could be in peril after the Pentagon launched a review to examine whether the agreement aligns with Mr Trump's 'US first' agenda. However, Mr Albanese has confirmed Australia made another scheduled payment as part of the deal to acquire US nuclear submarines, taking the total paid to $1.6 billion so far. 'It's about increasing ... their industrial capacity' to build the submarines, he told ABC television on Wednesday. Under the $368 billion program, Australia will buy at least three Virginia-class submarines from the US sometime in the early 2030s. A new class of nuclear submarines will be built in Adelaide to be delivered in the 2040s.

Problem-plagued City of Nedlands referred to Corruption and Crime Commission
Problem-plagued City of Nedlands referred to Corruption and Crime Commission

ABC News

timean hour ago

  • ABC News

Problem-plagued City of Nedlands referred to Corruption and Crime Commission

A trouble-plagued Perth local government has been referred to the state's corruption watchdog following years of turmoil in its ranks. The City of Nedlands made headlines this month when four councillors resigned, leaving it without a quorum and prompting the local government minister to remove those remaining and appoint commissioners in their place. An ABC investigation can now reveal separate concerns about the City of Nedlands have been referred to the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) by the Public Sector Commission. The ABC understands the referral took place earlier this month. This step is in addition to recent concerns about governance, audits and workplace complaints that have formed the basis of investigations by the Department of Local Government and Worksafe. A referral to the CCC does not mean it will launch an investigation and the ABC is not suggesting that a referral implies any findings of wrongdoing. On Wednesday, three commissioners were appointed to run the council until a special election is held on March 28, circumventing scheduled elections in October. Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley said this was to give the trio time to ensure the next budget was passed. Financial irregularities at the council were highlighted by the auditor-general last year. In a damning report, he found the council failed to keep accurate enough records needed to complete an annual audit. Commissioner chair David Caddy said he and his colleagues were committed to bringing trust and integrity back into the governance systems at the council. A separate investigation has been running by the Department of Local Government into the council since May. The minister said that investigation was examining "the functioning of the council, how they were operating, the behaviours that were on display and how that was affecting good governance at the council". It is now finished but not finalised, but the minister said the results of such investigations were not usually made public, although they would be provided to the newly-appointed commissioners. She said it was possible the outcome could provide grounds for an inquiry by her office, which would invoke broader powers under the Local Government Act. Controversy also haunted the council in recent months after it refused to give up land to the Perth Children's Hospital Foundation for a parkland for sick and dying children. Mayor Fiona Argyle issued a statement on Wednesday saying she had been "rolled" by the state government for doing her job "protecting A-class nature reserves from property developers". "If I do run again, I can assure the community there will be no property developer getting their hands on the most protected lands in our nation," Ms Argyle said. The Perth Children's Hospital, a registered charity, wanted to transform Allen Park into a parkland for terminally ill children. In a now-infamous interview on ABC Radio Perth earlier this month, Ms Argyle defended that decision, saying it was like "giving away" Hyde Park or Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris. "No one on this planet is against dying children, no one hates dying children, everyone loves dying children," she said. "What I don't like and the city doesn't like, it was a unanimous decision, that is the city's land." The state government took control of the land in early June in order to progress the children's hospice.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store