Protecting your super: stay safe from scams and fraud

Updated on 25 August 2025 | 4 minute read

Scammers are stealing identities to steal retirement savings. Here's what you can do to protect yourself from scams.

The impact of scams in Australia

Scams hit hard in the last year. In fact, Australians have reported over 494,000 scams, losing almost $2 billion.¹ Investment scams were the biggest culprit, costing Australians $945 million.¹

At the same time, cybercriminals are taking advantage of company data breaches. Every year, billions of login details (including emails, passwords, and other personal info) are stolen in cyberattacks and traded on dark web marketplaces.

Now, more than ever, it's important to take steps protect yourself from falling victim to scams and fraud.

Scams are getting smarter

Scammers are now using artificial intelligence (AI) to launch smarter, more targeted attacks. These scams are tailored to you, making them harder to spot and easier to fall for.

Here’s how AI is changing the game:

Web-scraping algorithms that collect your publicly available data (like job titles, interests, and social media activity) to create scams that feel relevant and convincing.
AI-generated messages that sound urgent, professional, and eerily personal.
Deepfake audio and video that impersonates trusted voices from your friends and even work colleagues.
Chatbots that engage you in real time to extract sensitive information.
Fake websites and emails that mimic government agencies like the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) or myGov.

Top super scam tricks to watch for

Scammers can reach you through phone calls, emails, social media, letters, or even text messages.

Here are the top tricks to watch for:

Unexpected phone calls claiming to be from government agencies like the ATO or Services Australia (Centrelink).
Pressure tactics pushing you to act fast or share sensitive information.
Too-good-to-be-true offers, like early access to your super or high returns if you open a self-managed super fund (SMSF).
Scare tactics, including threats that your account will be locked or that you’re under investigation.
False promises of government payments or financial relief.

Latest security news and alerts

What to do if you think you're being scammed

If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts. If you're worried about being scammed, just remember our 3-step rule.

Stop. Check. Protect.

Stop

Don’t rush. Pause before you click.

Check

Contact ART or the official agency directly.

Protect

Never share your member number, tax file number (TFN), or login details.

Before you click, pause and verify. If it feels off, it probably is.

Other steps to consider if you think you're being scammed:

Hang up or disconnect immediately if you’re unsure about a caller claiming to be from ART.
Contact us directly on 13 11 84 so we can act quickly to help secure your account.
Change your password to lock out any potential scammers.
Report the scam to your local police and trusted services like Scamwatch or IDCare.

Other ways you can keep your super safe

While we're working to protect your super, here are some simple things you can do to keep your super account safe.

Protect your login

Use a strong, unique password or passphrase. And never reuse it across other sites.
Consider using a password manager to generate and store secure passwords.
We’ll never ask you for your passwords. If you get a phone call from someone claiming to work for us that makes you suspicious, contact us first to confirm the call before giving out any info.

Secure your devices and accounts

Lock your phone with a PIN, password, or fingerprint.
Keep your email inbox and sent items tidy. If cyber criminals get access to your email account, they could potentially impersonate you and compromise your other online accounts.

Stay alert to scams

Be cautious of unexpected contact by phone, email, text, social media, or letter.
Watch for red flags: urgency, emotional manipulation, spelling errors, or suspicious links.
Never allow remote access to your computer or device.

Monitor your account

Check your super regularly through Member Online or our app.
Look out for unexpected changes or notifications about updates you didn’t authorise.
Review any third-party authorities on your account and remove them if circumstances change.

Protect your personal info

Store hard copy documents securely and shred anything you no longer need.
Review and delete any scanned personal documents stored on your devices or cloud accounts.
Contact us if your ID documents, phone, or email account are lost or compromised.

Here’s what you can expect from us

Your security is our priority. And we’re here for you, especially if you’ve been impacted by a scam.

Here’s how we work to protect your super and support you:

Secure verification

When you call us, we’ll ask questions to confirm your identity. If we notice suspicious activity (like a benefit payment or transfer request), we’ll call you to check it’s legitimate.

Safe communication

We never include unnecessary personal details (like your date of birth) in our letters, and we’ll never ask for your login details by phone, email, or text.

Proactive monitoring

We track benefit payments and transfer requests for signs of fraud, and we train our team to spot suspicious behaviour.

Strong security measures

We've introduced multi-factor authentication, perform real-time password health checks, and use strict proof of identity measures to keep your account safe. If your password has been exposed in a known breach, we’ll ask you to update it before logging in.

Clear identification

If we call you, our team will always identify themselves and explain why they’re calling.

If you’ve been targeted by a scam, we’ll guide you through the steps to report it and connect you with trusted support services like your local police, IDCare, and Scamwatch.

Need help with your account?

By working together, we can reduce the likelihood of fraud and help protect your super from scammers. If you notice anything suspicious, let us know.