NAB scam message examples
Example scam messages
NAB Alert: A new payee 'J WILSON' was added to your internet banking. If this wasn't you, remove the payee immediately at nab-payee-remove[.]example before funds are transferred.
What gives it away:
- The link is not nab.com.au, and NAB states it won't send you a link to verify your identity or fix your account
- You can check your payee list yourself in the NAB app; if 'J WILSON' isn't there, the text has told you everything you need to know
- The 'before funds are transferred' framing is a stopwatch designed to override your judgement
A caller from a number that displays as NAB says your account has been compromised by staff fraud, swears you to secrecy, and instructs you to move your balance to a 'secure holding account' while they investigate. To speed things up they ask you to install a screen-sharing app.
What gives it away:
- No legitimate bank asks you to transfer money to a safe, secure or holding account; the request is the scam in its entirety
- A remote-access or screen-sharing request from a 'bank' caller is a red flag on its own
- A matching caller ID proves nothing since NAB's number can be spoofed; hang up and ring back on the number on the back of your card or in the NAB app
How to check a message you've received
Never tap a link in an unexpected message. Instead, paste the text into the free message checker for an instant verdict, or check a suspicious link with the link & website checker. To verify directly, contact NAB through its official app or the number on its real website — never the details in the message itself.
Understand the scam and the brand
Not sure about a message?
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Frequently asked questions
Is this NAB message real or a scam?
The messages on this page are defanged examples of NAB impersonation scams — real reported patterns, not genuine NAB messages. To judge a specific message you've received, paste it into the free Scam Scanner checker for an instant verdict, or verify it directly through NAB's official app or website.
How can I tell a fake NAB message from a genuine one?
Genuine messages: Genuine NAB SMS show the sender ID 'NAB' — but scammers can spoof sender IDs, so judge the message, not the name it appears under. The examples below break down the tells that give a fake away — unexpected links, urgency, and requests for payment or details. If anything asks you to click a link or hand over information, treat it as suspicious until you've verified it independently.
What should I do if I already clicked a link or paid?
Act quickly: contact your bank, then follow the step-by-step recovery guide at /what-to-do. It walks you through who to contact — your bank, IDCARE and the right reporting channel — in the order that matters most.