Is this text or call from NAB a scam?
No. NAB (National Australia Bank) is one of Australia's big four banks and completely legitimate. The scam problem is impersonation of NAB, not NAB itself: fake suspicious-activity texts, spoofed-number calls from a pretend fraud team, and 'safe account' transfer requests all trade on the bank's name. The good news: a few quick checks almost always tell a real NAB message from a fake.
Genuine NAB links lead to nab.com.au — but a link can be made to look real, so don't go by the link alone. Below is exactly what a real NAB 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.
NAB reported it prevented or recovered more than $385 million in scam and fraud losses in 2025. Source: NAB News
What a real NAB message looks like
Genuine SMS from NAB typically arrive under the sender ID NAB, and genuine links lead to nab.com.au. Treat a link to any other address as a warning sign.
- Genuine NAB SMS show the sender ID 'NAB' — but scammers can spoof sender IDs, so judge the message, not the name it appears under
- A genuine NAB email comes from an @nab.com.au address, but addresses can be faked — don't rely on that alone; open the NAB app or type nab.com.au yourself
- Login or transaction alerts reference your actual recent activity
- NAB states it won't send you a link to 'verify your identity', and no legitimate bank asks you to move money to a 'safe account' — treat any such message as a scam
- Scammers can spoof NAB's number on caller ID, so a call that looks like NAB may not be — if a call feels off, hang up and call back using the number on the back of your card or in the NAB app
What NAB will never do
- Send you a link to 'verify your identity' (NAB states it won't)
- Ask you to move money to a 'safe account'; no legitimate bank asks this, and the request itself is the scam
- Ask for your full password, one-time code or card PIN on a call
- Ask you to install a remote-access app so staff can 'fix' a security issue
Common NAB scams
- SMS claiming suspicious activity on your NAB account and directing you to a fake login page
- Emails warning of a blocked card that contain an inert lookalike domain such as nab-secure-login[.]example
- Phone calls from spoofed numbers pretending to be NAB fraud staff who pressure you to transfer money to a safe account
- Messages urging you to install a remote-access app so NAB can fix an alleged security issue
Red flags to watch for
- Any request to transfer funds to another account for safety reasons
- A link that leads to a domain other than nab.com.au
- Urgent language demanding immediate action or your account will be frozen
- Caller claims to be from NAB but asks for your full password, one-time code or card PIN
- Message arrives from a sender ID that is not exactly NAB
NAB scam examples
These composed examples show how scams impersonating NAB typically read, with the tells that give each one away. Compare them against anything you've received.
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
Not sure about your message?
Paste the suspicious NAB text or email and get an instant scam verdict, free.
How to verify a message from NAB
NAB's real website is nab.com.au and the official app is the NAB app. Reach NAB through those channels, never through the details inside a message you're unsure about.
- Don't tap the link, reply, or stay on the call; nothing genuine is lost by stopping
- Open the NAB app, or type nab.com.au into your browser yourself, and check your accounts, payees and messages there
- Call NAB using the number on the back of your card or in the NAB app and ask whether the contact was real
- Check the message against the current scams NAB lists on its report-fraud-scams page (linked below)
If you have been scammed in NAB's name
Clicked the link, paid, or shared details? Act now. The first hour matters more than anything else you do later.
- Call NAB first, on the number on the back of your card or in the NAB app; the bank can freeze the account, block cards and attempt recovery, and every hour counts
- Block or lock your cards in the NAB app while you wait to get through
- Once the account is secured, change your NAB password and any other account where you reused it
- If identity documents were shared (licence, passport, Medicare), contact IDCARE (idcare.org) for free identity support
- Report to Scamwatch and ReportCyber using the links below, and forward the scam SMS to 7226 (spells SCAM)
Where to report a scam impersonating NAB
Received — or fell for — a message impersonating NAB? Report it. It helps authorities and carriers shut the campaign down for everyone who gets the next one.
- NAB scam alerts — NAB'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 NAB scams in 2026
The current crop of NAB impersonations splits into two styles. The quiet style is a text: suspicious activity, a new payee, a blocked card, each with a lookalike login link and a one-hour fuse. The loud style is a call from a spoofed NAB number, a story about compromised accounts or corrupt staff, and instructions to shift your balance to a 'safe account' or install screen-sharing software. NAB reports substantial sums prevented or recovered, yet the campaigns persist because urgency works. The counter never changes: do nothing through the message or call, then check via the NAB app or the number on the back of your card.
Frequently asked questions
I received an SMS from NAB asking me to log in through a link — is it real?
No. NAB states it won't send links in SMS for login or verification, so treat any such message as a scam. Delete it and, if concerned, open the NAB app or type nab.com.au yourself.
How can I tell if a phone call claiming to be NAB is a scam?
Hang up and call NAB using the number on the back of your NAB card or in the NAB app. Scammers often use spoofed numbers that look like NAB on your caller ID.
What should I do if I clicked a link in a suspicious NAB message?
Change your NAB password immediately via the official app or nab.com.au, monitor your accounts for unusual activity, and report the message at scamwatch.gov.au.
NAB text said my account will be locked unless I confirm my details — what now?
This is a common scam pattern. Ignore the text, do not enter any details, and contact NAB directly using the number on the back of your card or the NAB app.
What is NAB's real website?
NAB's only genuine website is nab.com.au. Reach your accounts through the NAB app or by typing nab.com.au yourself; a login link inside a text or email is never the real bank, however convincing the branding.
How do I report a NAB scam?
Report it through NAB's report-fraud-scams page so the bank can act, and to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) so the National Anti-Scam Centre can track the campaign. Forward scam texts to 7226 (spells SCAM). If money was lost, call NAB first on the number on the back of your card, then report to ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au).
Related scam types
Scams impersonating NAB usually fit one of these patterns. Learn how each works:
Related brands
Other bank names scammers impersonate — check a message from one:
Sources
- Report fraud and scams (NAB)
- Phishing scams: how scammers pose as trusted organisations (Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre))
- Phone scams (Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre))
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice — always verify with NAB through an official channel.