7 May 2026

Trust in everyday moments: practical steps to help protect personal information

4 min read

Australians continue to face a growing risk of scams and misuse of personal information, with phishing and impersonation among the most common tactics used by cybercriminals.[1]

This Privacy Awareness Week, Suncorp Bank is encouraging customers to take simple, practical steps to help protect their personal information.

For Anita Siassios, Privacy Officer at Suncorp Bank, this year’s campaign is about helping customers recognise when something is genuine before sharing their personal information.

“Privacy isn’t only about what happens when something goes wrong,” Anita says. “It’s also about the steps people can take every day to protect their information and reduce the risk of misuse or impersonation.”

Why this matters

According to the Australian Cyber Security Centre, more than 84,000 cybercrime reports were made in Australia in 2024–25, around one every six minutes, with identity fraud remaining the most common type of cybercrime.[2]

Many of these incidents involve the misuse of personal information or stolen credentials to impersonate individuals and access accounts. Recent data from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, shows that malicious or criminal attacks, including phishing and credential theft, account for the most reported data breaches.[3]

“These types of scams rely on people acting quickly,” Anita says. “Taking a moment to pause and check before responding can make a real difference.”

What you can do

Simple habits can help reduce the risk of personal information being misused:

  • Keep your contact details with your bank up to date so you can receive important security alerts and be contacted quickly if something doesn’t look right
  • Be cautious with unexpected contact especially if it creates urgency or asks for personal or security information, as this is a common tactic used in phishing and impersonation scams
  • Use trusted contact channels by going directly to your bank’s official website, app or phone number, rather than relying on links or contact details provided in messages
  • Never share passwords, PINs or one-time codes, as these can be used to access your accounts and impersonate you

“These are simple actions, but they can help people make more informed decisions before responding,” Anita says.

Where to get help

Customers looking for practical ways to strengthen their awareness and protect their personal information can access a range of trusted tools and resources:

Build your scam awareness

A quick, interactive quiz to help you recognise common scam tactics and test your ability to spot them

A practical guide covering common scams, warning signs, and steps you can take to protect yourself

Additional support

Looking ahead

As digital services continue to evolve, so do the ways personal information can be targeted and misused. With ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening privacy protections, it remains important to stay aware and informed as part of navigating this changing environment.

Final thought

“Helping people build the skills and confidence to better protect themselves online is incredibly important,” Anitasays. “When people feel confident about when and how to share their information, it helps build trust in everyday interactions.”

If you believe you have been scammed and made a payment through your Suncorp Bank account, contact us immediately on our publicly listed number 13 11 75.

 

[1] https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/notifiable-data-breaches/notifiable-data-breach-statistics-dashboard

[2] https://www.cyber.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-10/Annual%20Cyber%20Threat%20Report%202024-25%20factsheet%20for%20individuals.pdf

[3] https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/notifiable-data-breaches/notifiable-data-breach-statistics-dashboard