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Super safety

Is your super safe?

Protect your super from scams

Your superannuation is likely one of your biggest long‑term financial assets. Unfortunately, that also makes it a target for scammers. Super scams can be difficult to spot because they often look and sound like genuine help such as offers of a free super health check, help to access your super early, or advice to improve your retirement savings.

Scammers may reach out through:

  • Mail
  • Email
  • Text messages
  • Phone calls
  • Social media, dating apps and online platforms

They might try to:

  • Trick you into clicking a suspicious link
  • Request remote access to your computer
  • Ask for your personal or financial details
  • Persuade you to download a potentially harmful file

This page explains the most common types of superannuation scams, the warning signs to watch for, practical steps you can take to protect yourself and what to do if something goes wrong.

Practical steps to protect your super

Taking a few practical steps can make it much harder for scammers to target your superannuation.

1. Keep an eye on your super

·       Log in regularly to check balances and transactions.

·       Make sure your fund has up‑to‑date contact details.

·       Question any changes you did not authorise.

2. Strengthen your online security

  • Use strong, unique passwords for myGov, email, super and banking.
  • Turn on multi‑factor authentication wherever possible.
  • Never share passwords or one‑time codes.
  • Type website addresses directly into your browser rather than clicking links in messages.

3. Be careful with calls, emails and texts

  • Use strong, unique passwords for myGov, email, super and banking.
  • Turn on multi‑factor authentication wherever possible.
  • Never share passwords or one‑time codes.
  • Type website addresses directly into your browser rather than clicking links in messages.

4. Check who you are dealing with

  • Only deal with licensed financial advisers and providers.
  • Scammers often use fake licences, so check adviser licences and details on ASIC’s Financial advisers register.
  • Be cautious of advice from social media, messaging apps or online ads, including unlicensed “finfluencers”.

5. Before engaging a planner, you should ask them the following questions

  • Are you licenced to give financial advice?
  • If so, with whom?
  • What other qualifications do you have?
  • How long have you been a financial planner/advisor?
  • Do you get paid commissions or receive other benefits from selling financial products such as insurance to clients and if so how much?
  • Are you independent or are you tied to a particular firm or bank?
  • What are your fees-for-service?
  • How do you research the latest finance news and legislation?
  • Do you have professional indemnity insurance?

6. Get advice in writing

  • Legitimate advice should be documented in a Statement of Advice (SOA) or Record of Advice (ROA).
  • Be wary if you are told an opportunity will disappear if you don’t act immediately. This is a pressure tactic.

Remember

If something doesn’t feel right, pause. Take time to check, talk to your super fund or a trusted, licensed adviser, and don’t let pressure rush you into a decision about your super.

Contact your fund if you have any concerns.

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