Australian bank implements technology to stop against abusive messages sent via payment transactions
Westpac has taken measures to make digital banking safer for customers, including giving customers the ability to report abusive messages via online and mobile banking, and blocking inappropriate language from outgoing payments.
The changes have been introduced in response to the growing issue of digital payment channels being used as alternate messaging services to send abuse and threats via the description and reference fields in payment transactions.
Research by Westpac shows that one in two (51 per cent) Australians have received some form of online abuse, including via email, mobile and social media channels. One in four (26 per cent) admit to having used some form of inappropriate language in payment transactions.
Westpac’s keyword detection technology for outgoing payments is now up and running for customers. The self-reporting feature will be rolled out across online and mobile banking channels in the coming weeks following the initial customer pilot.
Westpac has taken steps to protect both the sender and receiver of payments, including:
Inbound payments
- Westpac is starting the roll out of a new tool enabling customers to report abuse and harassment received in the payment transaction description.
- Customers will be able to click a report button within Westpac’s online and mobile banking platforms to have offensive messaging flagged and sent to a dedicated team for review and action.
- During the review process, Westpac will consider further action against abuse, such as warning the customer or notifying the sender’s financial institution.
Outbound payments
- Westpac has deployed technology to monitor outgoing payments sent through its online and mobile banking platforms, which blocks certain transactions containing inappropriate or offensive language in real-time.
- Customers will be notified if their outgoing transaction contains inappropriate language from a set list of terms and have their payment stopped. The language will need to be removed for the payment to be accepted and processed.
The bank will also conduct advanced data analysis for both inbound and outbound payments to help detect more subtle threats and patterns of abuse in messages. If abusive behaviour is identified, it will be escalated to the support team for response. Customers not acting in line with Westpac’s policy for acceptable behaviour will be warned and if necessary, exited from the bank.
“It’s shocking that individuals are using real-time payment transactions to harass and threaten others, often circumventing blocks on other channels like SMS and social media to reach the recipient,” Westpac General Manager Customer Solutions, Lisa Pogonoski, said.
According to Pogonoski during the past few months, the bank detected about 2,500 transactions containing terms that could be considered inappropriate, ranging from swear words through to domestic violence threats. These were often on low value amounts, with some individuals repeatedly targeted.
“The blocks in place for offensive keywords sent via outbound payments, coupled with our advanced data analysis, will add a further line of defence against this behaviour,” said Pogonoski. “We will be able to use these measures and insights to help us evolve our monitoring capabilities and inform further steps to stamp out abuse on our platforms.
