Security and scams
Protecting your personal information and making informed financial decisions are important when navigating investment markets. Learn how to recognise potential scams, verify communications and take practical steps to reduce exposure to fraud and cyber threats.
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How to Protect Yourself from Investment Scams
A cautious, informed approach can help you identify potential investment scams. Be alert to unsolicited approaches, pressure to make immediate decisions, promises of guaranteed returns and opportunities that appear unusually attractive.
Before engaging with a financial services provider, independently verify its identity, licensing status and contact details using reliable official sources. Avoid clicking suspicious links, sharing sensitive information with unverified contacts or transferring funds before confirming the legitimacy of the request.
If something seems unusual, pause and verify the details independently before taking further action.
Cybersecurity and Personal Information
Protecting personal and financial information requires ongoing attention. While security practices vary between organisations, individuals can take practical steps to reduce their exposure to cyber threats.
- Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication where available.
- Keep devices, browsers and security software up to date.
- Avoid accessing financial accounts through unsecured public networks.
- Check website addresses carefully before entering personal or financial details.
- Verify unexpected payment requests or changes to account details using independently sourced contact information.
- Never share passwords, authentication codes or other sensitive information with unverified contacts.
River Group Fund Services Pty Ltd aims to communicate clearly with clients. For information about our security practices or to verify a communication that appears to come from River Group, use contact details obtained from an independently verified official source.
Latest Fraud and Scam Alerts
Scammers may impersonate financial services businesses by creating lookalike websites, using misleading email addresses or sending messages that imitate legitimate communications. These approaches may be used to obtain personal information, encourage fraudulent transfers or promote fictitious investment opportunities.
Always verify that you are communicating with River Group Fund Services Pty Ltd through an official, independently verified channel.
Do not rely solely on a logo, sender name, profile image or the appearance of a website to establish that a communication is genuine. If you receive a suspicious message claiming to represent River Group, do not respond, click links or transfer funds until you have independently verified it.
Important Reminder About Fraudulent Communications
Fraudsters can create websites and email addresses that resemble those of legitimate financial services providers. Do not assume a website or message is genuine because it uses familiar branding or professional-looking language.
River Group’s official website domain and approved communication channels should be confirmed using independently verified company information. No specific email domain or website address should be relied upon until it has been confirmed as an official River Group channel.
Illegitimate Website Examples
Cryptocurrency Scams
Fraudulent advertisements, messaging groups and social media accounts may impersonate financial firms or advisers to promote cryptocurrency-related scams. These schemes can involve fabricated investment opportunities, false profit claims or requests to transfer funds to unfamiliar accounts or digital wallets.
Be particularly cautious if someone:
- Contacts you unexpectedly with a cryptocurrency investment offer.
- Promises guaranteed returns or claims that an investment carries no risk.
- Pressures you to act quickly or keep the opportunity secret.
- Requests cryptocurrency transfers, wallet credentials or authentication codes.
- Claims to represent River Group through an unverified social media account or messaging group.
Do not assume that a person is authorised to represent a financial services business simply because they use its name, photographs or branding. Verify unexpected communications through independently confirmed official contact details before acting.
Protecting Your Account
Take these precautions to help protect your accounts and personal information:
- Use unique passwords and multifactor authentication where available.
- Never disclose your password or one-time authentication codes.
- Review account activity and report transactions you do not recognise.
- Confirm payment instructions and account changes independently.
- Contact your bank immediately if you suspect that your financial details or funds have been compromised.
If you believe you have been targeted by a scam, stop communicating with the suspected fraudster and preserve relevant messages, emails, transaction records and website addresses. Contact your financial institution promptly if money or banking information may be at risk.
Verifying Communications
If you receive an unexpected email, phone call, text message or social media message claiming to represent River Group Fund Services Pty Ltd, verify it before responding.
- Check the sender’s full email address and the website URL carefully.
- Avoid using contact details or links contained in a suspicious message.
- Independently locate and use verified company contact information.
- Do not provide sensitive information or transfer funds until the communication has been confirmed.
- If the message appears fraudulent, retain the evidence and report it through the appropriate channels.
If you suspect an investment scam in Australia, you can also consult the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) for scam alerts and reporting guidance.
