Data from Scamwatch, run by the National Anti-Scam Centre who collect reports about scams to help warn others and to take action to stop scams, shows that more than $2 million has been stolen from under 18s by scammers since 2020.

In response, Bendigo Bank has expanded its broader Banking Safely Online program to target secondary schools and help empower young digital citizens.

Specifically tailored to high school students, the face-to-face sessions cover how to identify and avoid scams, spot financial fraud risks, and adopt secure practises for online banking transactions.

“The idea of the program is to help young people identify and avoid scams,” Aaron Westberry, Senior Manager Customer Protection at Bendigo Bank, tells EducationHQ.

“It’s really to help them spot financial risks that might be out there and adopt some secure practices for online banking transactions.

“We've seen from Scamwatch that online shopping scams are causing the highest number of financial losses for those under 18, with social media, text messages and emails being the top contact methods that are being used by the scammers.”

The bank’s national, face-to-face education approach has already helped thousands of customers safely navigate digital banking since the program was launched in 2023.

The 30-minute Banking Safely Online in Schools classes are delivered by Bendigo Bank teams, and tailored to be delivered in schools or local appropriate community venues.

Keeping students’ attention can be a challenge, and so the bank has fashioned a short, sharp and engaging 30-minute session.

“It's interactive, it's face-to-face, and we use case studies that focus on scenarios that school students may actually experience,” Westberry says.

“So for example, it might be a slightly older student who is also working part-time and they might encounter a scam whilst trying to fill out or file a tax return.

“It also covers common scams that we see the younger age cohort encounter; so remote access scams or easy job scams and so on.”

Teachers will also get a great deal out of the program, and like anyone, need to be aware of the many unscrupulous operators poised to pounce on unsuspecting victims.

In response to the morphing nature of online crime, the program is always evolving.

“There'll be new types of scams that will generate and we're hoping to be able to integrate that in and move it pretty fast,” Westberry says.

He says scammers are getting smarter all the time, using increasingly sophisticated tactics. They’re also capitalising on the back-to-school rush.

“This is an exciting, busy time of year, but it’s important to never let your guard down against scammers who will be trying their best to catch out unsuspecting students and their families,” Westberry says.

“Be wary of back-to-school promotions on social media, especially those that sound too good to be true.

“Don’t click on links that you aren’t 100 per cent sure about, and beware calls and texts from people you don’t know who are requesting information – it could be a remote access scam.”

Westberry says teachers also obviously need to be aware of the many unscrupulous operators poised to pounce on unsuspecting victims.

“Every single person should go through an online safety training process, so absolutely teachers would benefit from the Banking Safely Online in Schools program,” he says.

Tips for school students and educators:

  • Fake news? Check, is the website real, or is the caller or texter really who they say they are? 
  • Don’t skip the ‘enable multi-factor authentication’ step,  your best defence against increasingly sophisticated scammers. 
  • Beware remote access scams, which often target young people. Never provide personal or log in information via phone or text to unsolicited contacts. 
  • Be very suspicious. Don’t click on any links in emails or texts that you are unsure about. 
  • Too good to be true? If it seems too good to be true, it probably is! 
  • Time is of the essence. Report any suspicious activity to your bank immediately. 

Teachers, administrators, parents and students can reach out to their local Bendigo Bank branch to check availability for a Banking Safely Online session to be run for their school. The sessions can be conducted on-campus, or an appropriate venue nearby.

To locate your nearest branch, please click here.