Be careful of suspicious links and communications as scammers can be imposters pretending to be Optus, banks or government departments to trick you into giving away personal information or allowing remote access into your computer and devices. If you receive a suspicious link or communication, do not hand out your details or press the link. You can contact Optus, telecommunication providers, government departments or banks directly to follow up.

Banks, government bodies and Optus have a policy to never ask you for your personal information over text, phone or email. Be wary of any spam calls/texts/emails and NEVER click on suspicious links. It is vital to monitor for suspicious activity on your accounts. Optus have stated that it will not be sending links in data breach emails, so if you receive an email from ‘Optus’ with a ‘click here for more details’, it is not likely to be Optus. Optus will post updates about the data breach on the Optus Media hub or you can find out more information by calling 133 937 or use the MyOptus app. (Keep in mind wait times may be longer than usual).

It is important to double-check your security, such as changing banking passwords and accounts linked to your mobile plan. Turn on multi-factor authentication. You can also contact credit reporting agencies to obtain a FREE credit report once every three months to check if scammers are taking out loans using your details. You can also place a 21 day credit report ban so no one will be able to apply for credit in your name whilst the freeze is active, by contacting the credit reporting bodies, Equifax, Experian and Illion. Detailed information is also available via the ScamWatch website, including real examples of communications that consumers are receiving from scammers seeking to exploit the Optus data breach.

Seeking advice about your situation? Contact the Consumer Credit Law Centre on 8202 5960.