ANZ has launched Digital Padlock, a new feature that allows customers to immediately lock access to their accounts if they suspect they are being targeted by scammers.

The feature is now available for users of the ANZ App, ANZ Internet Banking, and the ANZ Plus App.

A version for ANZ Internet Banking for Business customers will follow.

Digital Padlock is designed to act as a last-resort security measure.

When activated, it prevents digital access to accounts, blocks eligible banking cards, and secures banking services until the customer contacts ANZ directly and the bank confirms it is safe to restore access.

Future dated payments such as direct debits or loan repayments are not affected.

Melissa Hendrickson, ANZ’s Fraud and Scams Lead, said:

“When a scam hits, every second counts. Digital Padlock lets customers shut things down immediately, providing real-time support in a stressful situation. It’s like locking your front door when something doesn’t feel right, simple, fast, and reassuring.”

“We know how distressing it can be to feel like someone’s trying to access your money. Digital Padlock gives our customers the power to instantly take back control, acting as a direct line of defence to help give people some peace of mind when they need it most. Scams move fast, and so should our response. By giving customers the ability to take defensive action immediately, we can help stop cybercriminals in their tracks before any damage is done.”

Customers can activate Digital Padlock if they notice a suspicious transaction or believe someone is trying to access their account, for example after clicking a fraudulent link or sharing personal information.

Once switched on, Digital Padlock blocks logins to the ANZ App, ANZ Internet Banking, Phone Banking and the ANZ Plus App, suspends the use of eligible cards including those in digital wallets, prevents recovery of customer reference numbers and reset of login credentials, and alerts ANZ’s fraud monitoring system.

The feature is part of ANZ’s wider programme of measures against fraud and scams.

These include ANZ First Responders, a dedicated support team launched in March 2025 that has handled more than 200,000 calls with most resolved at first contact; the CallSafe feature for ANZ Plus calls, which verifies the identity of both customers and service teams before sensitive discussions; and the Scam Safe protections within ANZ Plus, which cover threats such as romance scams, impersonation attempts, and fraudulent investment schemes.

ANZ has also implemented enhanced biometric checks during onboarding and when resetting credentials or changing payment limits, and recently introduced Confirmation of Payee, a service that matches account names with recipient details to help customers verify payments before they are sent.

ANZ reminded customers not to share personal information or money if they are uncertain of who they are dealing with, to avoid clicking links in messages, and to only use official contact channels.

Customers are urged to act quickly if something appears suspicious and to contact their bank immediately if they have already transferred funds.

Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Singapore, based on image by creativeart via Freepik

The article first appeared on Fintech News Singapore