ANZ says scammers increasingly use “real-time coaching” to trick people and deceive bank staff during in-branch transactions. The warning follows reports that victims remain on the phone with fraudsters while they approach or interact with staff, making the scam appear legitimate to frontline workers.
The outlets report that the broader impact of scams in Australia remains severe, with Australians losing more than $2.18 billion in 2025. In this context, the alleged shift toward in-branch activity highlights how fraudsters adapt their methods to exploit banking processes and staff responses.
While both sources describe the same core allegation—fraudsters directing victims while they are interacting with bank services—they frame it differently. The West Australian emphasizes the “most brazen attacks” occurring inside branches, whereas PerthNow leads with the coaching tactic itself. Both focus on ANZ’s disclosure and the risk that staff may be misled by what appears to be a customer’s ongoing, legitimate conversation and instructions.
