Website Security

Balmain is fully committed to protecting your security and privacy online when using our website and Investor Control Console (Console) so we have put in place a number of steps to ensure that you will always be protected to the best of our ability.

Fraudulent emails and telephone calls which appear to be from us or other legitimate businesses may be an attempt to trick you into providing personal information such as Internet Logins or passwords etc.

Phishing emails purporting to be from Balmain Private may be an attempt to trick you into providing personal information such as your Login ID and password to the Console. Do not respond to any requests for this information, even if they appear to have come from Balmain. We will NEVER ask you to disclose your details via email.

IMPORTANT: If you think your online information has been compromised, you think you have received a scam email, or there has been unauthorised access to your account, please contact us immediately on 1800 138 231 or by emailing [email protected].

How we protect you

Online security is a major priority for us. We have developed a comprehensive range of security measures to help ensure your investments are as secure as possible.

Our protection includes:

  • SMS Security - We send you a unique password via SMS, making every transaction you do, doubly hard for scammers to crack. • Transaction monitoring - We have a dedicated registry team who monitor every transaction looking for anything suspicious or unusual.
  • Firewalls - These prevent potentially dangerous material from entering our systems.
  • Website security scans - We carry these out regularly to check for any vulnerability.
  • Online sessions timeout facility - This means we will automatically log you out if you have been inactive for a period of time.
  • Lockout - We will automatically block access to your Console after a number of failed login attempts.

Tips on website safety

We outline a few simple steps you can take to help protect yourself from online threats such as financial crime and identity theft:

  • Look after your password - do not give it to anyone including Balmain Private staff. Also make sure it is hard to guess, never write it down and YES, change it frequently. We recommend you do not use the same password as you do for your regular social websites. These sites are often less secure and more easily compromised.
  • Remember to log off - when you have completed your online banking session you must log off.
  • Do not use public computers for online transactions - where possible avoid using computers in public places such as internet cafes, hotels and airport lounges to conduct online banking.
  • Do not ever leave your computer unattended while online, especially on a shared computer. Make sure the URL reads ‘https‘ or ‘secure‘ and there is a lock in the bottom right of the browser window.
  • Do not get caught by Phishing - Balmain Private will NEVER send you an email requesting personal information such as your Login ID and Console password.
  • Keep your anti-virus software updated - it is very important to have an up-to-date anti-virus program to detect and prevents online attacks.
  • Keep your operating systems updated - ensure automatic updates are switched on and installed when available.
  • Regularly check your account - if you discover a transaction you do not recognise, please let us know on 1800 138 231.

REMEMBER: Always type Balmainprivate.com.au into your browser's address bar when accessing our website. If you think your online information has been compromised or you think you have received a scam email, or there has been unauthorised access to your account, please contact us immediately on 1800 138 231 or by emailing [email protected]

Types of fraud

We have listed below some of the most common ways scammers will try to take your money:

  • Mobile phone porting - fraudsters who have compromised your online credentials may transfer your phone number to another provider to allow them to receive any security codes sent by Balmain Private. A warning sign could be your mobile phone service being suddenly disconnected. You should telephone your mobile provider immediately to confirm why your mobile service is not working. If your mobile has been transferred to another provider without your permission please contact us on 1800 138 231.
  • Helping out a ‘friend‘ - fraudsters may seek to befriend you over the internet, often through dating/friendship sites, with the sole intent to defraud you or to have you commit fraudulent activity on their behalf. If you are asked to open a Balmain Private account on behalf of a friend you met over the internet then it is probably a sign that something may not be right and you should contact us on 1800 138 231.
  • Phishing - when fraudsters attempt to trick you into providing your personal information, such as passwords or your bank account details. A few ways they try are:
    • By email - using an authentic looking email to capture your details. Balmain Private will NEVER send you an email asking for your password. If you receive an email that you suspect is non-genuine do not click on any links and report it to Balmain Private by emailing [email protected]
    • Over the phone - pretending to be from Balmain Private and requesting account details such as passwords. It could be to let you know there is a ‘problem‘ with your account security. If you have any concerns on the legitimacy of a phone call then do not answer any questions, call Balmain Private directly on 1800 138 23 and speak to us.
    • By SMS - targeting your mobile by sending you an SMS claiming to be from Balmain Private and asking you to provide your account details. Balmain Private will NEVER send you an SMS requesting account information. If you receive any SMS message that you have not requested or you are suspicious of, please contact us on 1800 138 231.
  • Identity theft - if anyone asks for your personal information, no matter how convincing their story maybe, always make sure the request for your details is genuine.
  • Malicious software (Malware) and Spyware - advertisements that ‘pop up‘ in a different browser window while you are on the web may not be what they seem. They might be downloading ‘spyware‘ or ‘adware‘, programs designed to gather your user information and monitor your internet activity. Ensure you have security software installed which detects and removes spyware.
  • Viruses and Trojans - these are harmful programs loaded on to your computer without you knowing. They are used to obtain the information on your computer and can damage the performance of your computer as well as flood you with advertising. Viruses spread by infecting computers and then replicating; while Trojans look like genuine applications, but embed themselves into your computer and monitor your activity.
  • You can report a scam or a suspicious advertisement or find out more through the SCAMwatch website at www.scamwatch.gov.au

Security software

Security software helps protect your computer against fraudulent activity by detecting and preventing online attacks. Balmain Private strongly recommends that you install and regularly update security software on your home PC.

Firewalls, anti-virus, anti-spam and anti-spyware protection should all be a part of your computer‘s arsenal. They will help protect your computer from nasties like viruses, worms and trojans. It is important to make sure this software is kept up to date and we also recommend adding a SPAM filtering product - it helps block fake or virus-related emails.

There are plenty of complete security software packages from various providers, so take a look around and find the best one for your needs.