If you think you have received an MLC Life Insurance branded scam email, please forward it to our cyber security team via security@mlcinsurance.com.au

The tips below can help to protect your personal and financial information from fraud and scams.

Emails

• Do not open suspicious or unsolicited emails – if unsure, delete immediately or contact the person/business through a separate, legitimate source to confirm it. 
• Do not click on any links or open any attached files on suspicious emails
• To get to the MLC Life Insurance website, best practise is to enter the address (ie, www.mlcinsurance.com.au) manually directly into your browser
• Resist the urge to act urgently. A lot of phishing emails want you to act immediately. If you are unsure, ask out loud and get a second opinion.
• Be careful when clicking unsubscribe on an email. Spammers may use the 'unsubscribe' button to validate your email address, resulting in even more spam.
• If the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is! If unsure, always delete.

• Use up-to-date and comprehensive antivirus software.

SMS

• It is important to remember, criminals can set the "Sender Name" of SMS messages to make it appear as though they're being sent by the legitimate organisation and appear in the same "thread" as other legitimate messages on your device. This can make them more difficult to identify.
• Fraudulent SMS messages often feature similar characteristics to phishing emails and include links and/or attachments. Do not click on these links or attachments
• MLC Life Insurance will never ask you to provide your personal or financial information via SMS.
• Fraudulent SMS messages will often ask you to click a link which directs you to a fraudulent web page. If the link looks unfamiliar, it's likely a scam.

Personal details

• Always check the website address as fraudulent URLs look remarkably similar to legitimate ones.
• Never enter personal or financial information on a website if you're not certain it is genuine.
• Never send your personal, credit card or bank account details through an email.
• Keep your passwords and PINs safe and don't share them with anyone.
• Have a different password/PIN for every online account.
• Check your credit card and/or bank statements regularly for suspicious transactions.
• If you accidentally provide account or banking details to someone suspicious, you should contact your bank or financial institution immediately.
• Phone calls
• If you are unsure of the nature of a call or who is on the other end, do not commit to anything. Hang up and call the organisation directly. Never use contact details provided by the caller - find the number through their website or the White Pages.
• If a bank or any other organisation phones you, don't provide your personal or financial information.

If you believe your online security has been compromised contact us immediately on 13 65 25  (or +61 2 9121 6500 from outside Australia) between 8.30am-6pm (AEST/AEDT), Monday to Friday.

If you receive an email, phone call or letter in the mail and think it's a scam you can:

• Visit the SCAMwatch website to check out the latest scams.
• Report it to the ACCC via SCAMwatch or by calling 1300 795 995

Resources

For more information on how to identify and respond to fraud and scams, you can visit some of the websites listed below:

Australian Government | Stay Smart Online (SSO)

Stay Smart Online provides topical, relevant and timely information on how home internet users and small businesses can protect themselves from, and reduce the risk of, cyber security threats such as software vulnerabilities, online scams, malicious activities, and risky online behaviours.

You can subscribe to the Stay Smart Online Alert Service at https://www.staysmartonline.gov.au/alert-service to keep updated with the latest threats and current scams.

Australian Government | Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC)

The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) brings cyber security capabilities from across the Australian Government together into a single location. It is the hub for private and public sector collaboration and information-sharing to combat cyber security threats.

To report a cyber security incident, go to https://www.cyber.gov.au/report

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission | Scamwatch 

Scamwatch provides information to consumers and small businesses about how to recognise, avoid and report scams using publications, videos and other online resources.

Australian Government | Office of the eSafety Commissioner

The Office of the eSafety Commissioner provides online safety education for Australian children and young people, a complaints service for young Australians who experience serious cyberbullying, and address illegal online content.

Australian Government | Attorney-General’s Department 

The Attorney-General’s Department website provides helpful information and resources about your rights and protections in regard to identity security, freedom of information and cyber security. The Department has developed a range of resources to assist people protect their identity and recover from the effects of identity crime.

 

Identity theft and misuse

iDcare

Joint public-private sector not-for-profit organisation providing free services to victims of identity theft and misuse. iDcare tailor’s response plans for each individual circumstance.

Phone: 1300 432 273

Attorney-General's Department

Australian Government website providing information about protecting and recovering your identity.