Is this text or call from ANZ a scam?
No. ANZ is one of Australia's big four banks and a legitimate, ASX-listed company. The worry runs in the other direction: scammers send fake ANZ 'account locked' texts, bogus security alerts and phoney transfer confirmations, because impersonating a big four bank gets Australians to react before they think. The good news: a few quick checks almost always tell a real ANZ message from a fake.
Genuine ANZ links lead to anz.com.au, anz.com — but a link can be made to look real, so don't go by the link alone. Below is exactly what a real ANZ message looks like, the scams currently circulating in its name, the red flags that give a fake away, and a real example to compare against. Got a message in front of you? Check it now for an instant verdict.
ANZ reported customer scam losses fell 15% between October 2024 and June 2025, and that it prevented or recovered more than $100 million in scam and fraud funds. Source: ANZ Newsroom
What a real ANZ message looks like
Genuine SMS from ANZ typically arrive under the sender ID ANZ, and genuine links lead to anz.com.au, anz.com. Treat a link to any other address as a warning sign.
- Genuine ANZ SMS show the sender ID 'ANZ' — but scammers can spoof sender IDs, so judge the message itself, not the name it appears under
- ANZ states it won't send a text message with a link to log into internet banking — treat any such SMS link as a scam
- A genuine ANZ email comes from an @anz.com.au or @anz.com address, but addresses can be faked — don't rely on that alone; open the ANZ app or type anz.com.au yourself
- ANZ states it won't ask you to share your password, PIN, one-time codes or account details by SMS or email — anyone who does is a scammer
- ANZ may contact you about genuine fraud concerns without you reaching out first — but it won't ask you to act through a link or read out codes; if a message pressures you, contact ANZ yourself to check
What ANZ will never do
- Send a text message with a link to log into internet banking (ANZ states it won't; type anz.com.au yourself or use the ANZ app)
- Ask you to share your password, PIN, one-time codes or account details by SMS or email (ANZ states it won't)
- Ask you to move money to a 'safe' or 'holding' account; no legitimate bank does, and the request itself is the scam
- Ask you to read out codes or act through a link during a call, even when the fraud concern is genuine
Common ANZ scams
- SMS claiming your ANZ internet banking has been locked and directing you to click a link to 'unlock' it
- Messages pretending to be from ANZ security saying suspicious activity was detected on your card and urging immediate login
- Texts that appear to be from ANZ asking you to confirm a large transfer you supposedly just made
Red flags to watch for
- The message arrives from any sender ID other than 'ANZ'
- The text contains a link to any domain that is not anz.com.au or anz.com
- The message asks you to enter your full password or customer registration number
- The message creates urgency by claiming your account will be frozen unless you act immediately
- The sender uses an email address that does not end in @anz.com.au or @anz.com
ANZ scam examples
These composed examples show how scams impersonating ANZ typically read, with the tells that give each one away. Compare them against anything you've received.
ANZ: Your internet banking has been locked after multiple failed sign-in attempts. Unlock your access now at anz-unlock-access[.]example or it will be permanently suspended.
What gives it away:
- ANZ states it won't send a text with a link to log into internet banking, so the link is the giveaway before you even read the domain
- The domain is a hyphenated lookalike, not anz.com.au or anz.com
- The 'permanently suspended' threat manufactures panic; a genuine lockout is resolved in the ANZ app or on a call you make yourself
ANZ: You have successfully scheduled a transfer of $4,900 to a new payee. If this was NOT you, call our fraud line on 0400 000 000 immediately.
What gives it away:
- The 'fraud line' belongs to the scammer; only ever call ANZ on the number on the back of your card or in the ANZ app
- The invented transfer exists purely to make you panic; open the ANZ app yourself and you'll see no such payment
- A convincing sender ID proves nothing, because 'ANZ' can be spoofed
Subject: Action required: suspicious card activity. Dear Customer, we have detected unusual spending on your ANZ card. Review the transactions within 12 hours at anz-card-review[.]example or your card will be cancelled.
What gives it away:
- A generic 'Dear Customer' greeting where a genuine bank email addresses you by name
- The link goes to a lookalike domain rather than anz.com.au, and ANZ won't ask you to act on card activity through an emailed link
- A deadline plus a cancellation threat is the classic pressure combination; real card reviews don't expire in hours
Not sure about your message?
Paste the suspicious ANZ text or email and get an instant scam verdict, free.
How to verify a message from ANZ
ANZ's real website is anz.com.au and the official app is the ANZ app. Reach ANZ through those channels, never through the details inside a message you're unsure about.
- Don't tap the link, reply, or call any number contained in the message itself
- Open the ANZ app, or type anz.com.au into your browser yourself, and check your accounts and messages there; a genuine issue will be visible inside
- Call ANZ using the number on the back of your card or in the ANZ app and ask whether the contact was genuine
- Compare the message against the scams ANZ describes on its report-scams-fraud page (linked below)
If you have been scammed in ANZ's name
Clicked the link, paid, or shared details? Act now. The first hour matters more than anything else you do later.
- Call ANZ straight away using the number on the back of your card or in the ANZ app; the bank can block your cards, freeze transfers and try to recover funds, and speed matters
- If you entered your password anywhere, change it via the ANZ app or by typing anz.com.au yourself, and change it on any other site where you reused it
- If you shared identity documents such as a licence, passport or Medicare card, contact IDCARE (idcare.org) for free identity support
- Report the scam to Scamwatch and ReportCyber using the links below
- Forward the scam SMS to 7226 (spells SCAM) so carriers can block the sender
Where to report a scam impersonating ANZ
Received — or fell for — a message impersonating ANZ? Report it. It helps authorities and carriers shut the campaign down for everyone who gets the next one.
- ANZ scam alerts — ANZ's own page on current scams and how to report one.
- Scamwatch — Report the scam to the ACCC's national scam service.
- ReportCyber — Report cybercrime and financial loss to the police.
- ACMA — Complain about scam texts and spam SMS, email or calls.
- Forward to 7226 (SCAM) — Forward the scam SMS to short code 7226 so carriers can block the source.
- IDCARE — Free identity and cyber support if your details were taken.
Latest ANZ scams in 2026
Campaigns using ANZ's name currently rotate through three moves: 'internet banking locked' texts with an unlock link, security alerts about card activity that push you to a lookalike login page, and fake transfer confirmations that bait you into calling the scammer's own 'fraud line'. Sender-ID spoofing means these can land under the 'ANZ' name, sometimes in the same thread as real messages. What never changes is the ask: a link to tap, a number to call, or a code to read out. ANZ itself reports customer losses trending down as new protections roll out, but the messages keep coming, and the habit that beats them all is checking only through the ANZ app or the number on the back of your card.
Frequently asked questions
I got a text from ANZ with a link — is it a scam?
Yes. ANZ states it won't send a text with a link to log into internet banking, so treat any such link as a scam. Delete the message and report it to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au.
How do I know if an ANZ email is real?
A genuine ANZ email comes from @anz.com.au or @anz.com, but addresses can be spoofed — don't judge by that alone. Don't tap links in the message; type anz.com.au yourself or open the ANZ app.
ANZ just texted asking for my customer registration number — is that normal?
No — a legitimate bank won't ask you to hand over login details like your password or customer registration number by SMS. Treat it as a scam and forward the message to 7226.
What is ANZ's real website?
ANZ's only real websites are anz.com.au and anz.com. The safest habits are the ANZ app or typing anz.com.au into your browser yourself; never reach the bank through a link someone sent you.
How do I report an ANZ scam?
Report it through ANZ's report-scams-fraud page so the bank can act on the campaign, and to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) so the National Anti-Scam Centre can track it. Forward scam texts to 7226 (spells SCAM). If you lost money, call ANZ first on the number on the back of your card, then report to ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au).
Related scam types
Scams impersonating ANZ usually fit one of these patterns. Learn how each works:
Related brands
Other bank names scammers impersonate — check a message from one:
Sources
- Report scams and fraud (ANZ)
- Phishing scams: how scammers pose as trusted organisations (Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre))
- Text or SMS scams (Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre))
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice — always verify with ANZ through an official channel.