Planning an overseas trip? Here's how to stay safe from travel scams

Travel should be about new places, good food and memories you’ll want to keep.

It shouldn’t be about being stuck overseas without access to your money, trying to verify your identity on an expensive long-distance phone call or dealing with suspicious card activity.

Scammers often target travellers because they may be distracted, unfamiliar with local systems or relying on public networks, using multiple booking platforms and transacting more funds than usual.

Which is why taking a few moments before you leave to think about how you’ll access your money while you’re away could save you time and effort down the track.

Why travellers can be more exposed to scams

When you’re overseas, small banking issues can become much harder to fix, explains Rose, a team leader in the Bank Australia contact centre.

“A lost card, blocked transaction, unreliable mobile reception or unfamiliar payment request can quickly disrupt your plans.

“Having more than one payment option, keeping your contact details up to date and knowing how to verify yourself can make a big difference.”

Common travel scams to watch out for

Pickpocketing and bag theft‍

Crowded places such as tourist attractions, public transport hubs and markets can be hotspots for theft. Keep cards, phones and wallets secure, and avoid carrying all your payment options in one place.

Card skimming‍

Criminals may use devices on ATMs or payment terminals to capture card details and PINs. Check for loose parts or unusual attachments before using an ATM, and cover your PIN with your hand when you’re putting it in.

Fake booking, visa or ticket websites‍

Be cautious of prices that seem too good to be true, urgent payment requests or websites that look official but use unfamiliar addresses.

Public Wi-fi scams‍

Avoid internet banking or entering sensitive details on public Wi-Fi unless you’re using a secure connection.

Fake payment requests‍

Messages may appear to come from an airline, accommodation provider or booking platform asking you to update payment details or make an urgent payment. Contact the organisation directly using trusted contact details before you act.

Email interception scams‍

If payment details change unexpectedly, stop and verify the request another way. Scammers may send convincing emails from compromised accounts asking you to pay a different bank account.

If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank as soon as possible. You can also report scams to Scamwatch.

Why your bank may check unusual overseas card activity

No one wants card issues on holiday. But security checks are designed to help protect customers from fraud and increasingly sophisticated scams.

Criminals can use stolen card details to make purchases, and sometimes fraudulent transactions can look like real travel spending. That’s why banks monitor for unusual activity and verify transactions that don’t fit a customer’s usual patterns.

"The bank is constantly monitoring transactions to look for things that could be fraudulent or risky," says Rose.

"If the bank doesn’t know that you're overseas and we suddenly see your card being used in another country, we're likely to think your card has been compromised."

These checks are there to help prevent a much bigger problem, such as criminals gaining access to a customer’s money, which can be incredibly costly and time consuming for the customer.

What to do before you travel overseas

Most travellers spend time planning flights, accommodation and insurance.

A few minutes spent preparing your banking can also help reduce stress later.

It’s a common issue. The contact centre hears from customers every day who have been locked out of their account overseas because they didn’t update their travel details, set up verification or check how they would access their banking before they left.

In many cases, it’s an avoidable problem.

“The return on investment of your time by lodging your travel notification before you leave is repaid tenfold,” says Rose.

1. Take more than one card: Have backup options

If your only card is lost, stolen, damaged, skimmed or temporarily restricted while suspicious activity is investigated, you could be left without an easy way to access money.

"Taking one card overseas, to me, is the same as keeping all of your travel cash in the front pocket of your backpack," explains Rose. 

Travel tip:

Did you know you can temporarily lock your Visa cards?

Consider taking a separate Visa card and storing it separately from your wallet, such as in your hotel safe or luggage, with temporary blocks turned on.

If your wallet is stolen, you may be able to log in to your banking app, unlock the backup card and continue your holiday.

2. Tell your bank you’re travelling

Before you leave, let your bank know your travel dates, destinations and contact details while you’re away.

This can help your bank keep your money available and secure while still monitoring for suspicious activity.

At Bank Australia, you can add a travel notification through the app, secure email in internet banking, by calling or by visiting a branch.

It’s also worth checking that your card won’t expire while you’re away and that your contact details are up to date.

3. Know your security password

If you need help while overseas, you may need to complete identity checks before your bank can assist.

This can be harder if you don’t have access to your usual phone number or can’t receive verification messages.

“I wish more people knew their security password before they left,” says Rose. “If you don’t know it now, it’s very easy to reset it before you leave.”

“Not being verified ahead of time creates more hassle later on.”

4. Set up multi-factor authentication before you leave

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) helps protect your accounts by adding another step when you log in or approve certain actions. Set it up before departure and check whether you’ll still be able to use your usual verification method overseas.

“Both of our alternative verification methods rely on your domestic number that’s on file,” Rose explains.

“If staff can’t call that to verify, then it’s much harder to complete verification.”

A few minutes of preparation before you leave could save hours of stress if something goes wrong while you’re away.

Quick travel banking checklist

• Tell your bank your travel dates and destinations before you leave.
• Take more than one way to pay and store backup options separately.
• Check your card expiry date and update your contact details.
• Set up digital wallet access if you plan to use it overseas.
• Make sure you know your security password.
• Set up MFA and check how you’ll receive verification messages while travelling.
• Be wary of urgent payment requests, changed bank details and unfamiliar booking websites.
• Contact the bank immediately if your card is lost, stolen or used unexpectedly.

Read more scam awareness stories in our dedicated section

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