NAB has issued a warning to Taylor Swift fans about scams emerging as anticipation grows for the release of "The Life of a Showgirl." The bank reports that with pre-orders now open, criminals are attempting to exploit the excitement through fraudulent websites, counterfeit merchandise pages, and false offers for leaked music tracks.
On average, NAB blocks and recovers nearly $2 million in scam payments each month. Tessa Bowles, NAB Head of Security Culture and Advisory, said scammers often take advantage when enthusiasm is high and fans are eager to buy related products.
“Before you hand over your payment details, make sure you’re paying for the real thing, not some imitation of a showgirl,” said Ms Bowles.
Some common warning signs include fake pre-order sites that mimic official stores to steal payment information or deliver nothing, links promising early access to songs but containing malware, impersonators on social media offering exclusive access in exchange for personal details or money, and compromised social media accounts claiming to sell spare merchandise or access codes that do not exist.
Ms Bowles advised fans to rely only on official sources. “Stay in your Safe-Ty Era by going official,” she said.
“Only use links from verified pages or trusted retailors. And get there by typing the website address yourself instead of clicking on a link sent to you by someone claiming to a retailor.
“Criminals also thrive on urgency and fear. If you see ‘get in quick’ or ‘last chance offer’ on something that sounds too good to be true, pause and double-check it first.
“Buying items through social media or online marketplaces always comes with a risk. If you decide to proceed with the purchase, do so with caution, checking whether the seller has a legitimate profile, other listings and reviews.
“Using PayID can also help reduce the risk of fraud or payments being sent to the wrong account as you can see the name of the person or business when paying. Be cautious of sellers asking you to pay with gift cards or cryptocurrencies.”
NAB noted that while it works hard to recover stolen funds, retrieving money after it has been transferred can be difficult because scammers often move funds overseas or convert them into cryptocurrency quickly.
Australians are encouraged to update software across all devices, use strong unique passwords, and enable multi-factor authentication where possible. Anyone who suspects they have fallen victim should contact their bank immediately and report incidents via Scamwatch so others are warned.
NAB customers concerned about scams can call 13 22 65 for assistance from the Fraud team. Additional information is available at NAB’s Security Hub.