No one will be able to withdraw money from your personal bank account if all they have is your account number. That's not to say you shouldn't protect your bank account number.
The Difference Between Routing Number and Account Numbers
With both of these pieces of information, someone can potentially use them to withdraw money, pay their own bills, purchase items online from vendors, or set up a new account using your funds—all from your checking account.
Direct Debit fraud occurs when a debit is taken from your account without the proper authority from you set out in a valid Direct Debit request. Sometimes this has happened when BSB and account numbers published online or in a public document have been used via Direct Debit to debit accounts.
Frauds: This is the biggest reason for not giving your bank account number to just about anyone. Banks clearly suggest not sharing your bank account details unless you are expecting a fund transfer. Even in the case of fund transfer, make sure that the person crediting your bank account is trustworthy.
The easiest way to become a victim of a bank scam is to share your banking info — e.g., account numbers, PIN codes, social security number — with someone you don't know well and trust. If someone asks for sensitive banking details, proceed with caution.
First let's clear up one myth - giving out your bank account number and BSB is fine. "There is no issue in giving out your BSB/account details as it's only possible to deposit funds rather than withdraw funds," an ING spokesperson told Money. "If an unauthorised debit occurs then the debiting institution is liable."
To keep your information safe, we suggest only providing your BSB and account number to people you know and trust (such as family, friends or your employer etc.)
Also, you should never share your personal banking details, such as PIN, card number, card expiry date and CVV number (that's the three digit number, which, in Starling's case can be found on the right side of the signature strip).
Eight-digit account number of the account you're paying. A payment reference (often your name or customer number) to let them know the money came from you. Sometimes you'll need the name and address of the bank you're sending the money to. This helps them to check that sort code is right.
Contact your bank immediately to let them know what's happened and ask if you can get a refund. Most banks should reimburse you if you've transferred money to someone because of a scam.
Most bank transfer fraud is done through mistaken identity – rather than a fault in the system. So you must trust that the recipient is credible before the transfer is undertaken. Because once the money is sent, it's often very difficult – if not impossible – to get it back.
What they want are account numbers, passwords, Social Security numbers, and other confidential information that they can use to loot your checking account or run up bills on your credit cards. Identity thieves can take out loans or obtain credit cards and even driver's licenses in your name.
Do banks reimburse stolen money? Banks often reimburse stolen money, but there are some exceptions. Transactions not made by you or anyone authorized to use your account are fraudulent, and federal law protects your money.
If scammers have access to your phone number, they could potentially use it to hack into your online accounts — including your email, social media, and even your bank account.
Simple steps for receiving money with a bank account
Required information varies depending on your location, but the bank name is mandatory in most countries. In the US you need to provide your ABA routing number, account number, address, city, state, zip and phone number.
Despite your account number being generally considered as safe to give out, you shouldn't give out any digits without feeling 100 percent safe. After all, if hackers are trying to get into your account, that would be one extra code for them to figure out, making their job a lot harder.
Phishing
With phishing, hackers attempt to steal valuable information by impersonating a trusted source. Phishing schemes can come in several different forms, including phone calls, fake websites and sales emails.
What is the safest way to accept payment? Besides cash, a certified check is the safest way you can receive a payment to your business.
Go to your notifications in the CommBank app or check your NetBank inbox and enter the password. If you don't receive it, call 13 2221. Choose the accounts you'd like to share. If a joint account is enabled for data sharing, you'll be able to select it, otherwise you'll need to enable it first (see below).
A bank transfer scam – also known as an authorised push payment (APP) scam – occurs when you transfer money from your bank account to a scammer's bank account under false pretences. Bank transfer scams occur when a scammer tricks a victim into transferring money.
Contact your bank or card provider to alert them. Reporting is an important first step to getting your money back, and you could be liable for all money lost before you report it. If you've been targeted, even if you don't fall victim, you can report it to Action Fraud.
It's also possible hackers could use your email account to gain access to your bank account or credit card information, draining funds from an account, or racking up charges. They might even use your email and password to sign up for online sites and services, sticking you with monthly fees in the process.