Services Australia: Beware of scams
Scammers are targeting people from multicultural communities.
The scammers pretend to help you get Services Australia payments and services, and they try to steal your personal information.
They will offer to help you claim Centrelink disaster payments like the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment, Disaster Recovery Allowance and Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment. They may offer to help you set up a myGov account and link your services. Sometimes they will ask you to pay a fee for them to set up your myGov account or claim a payment on your behalf.
If they get your personal information, they can use it to change your address or bank account details and then they steal your payments.
To avoid being scammed, make sure you:
- never give your personal information or identification documents to people you don’t know.
- never let people you do not know use or see your myGov or other online accounts.
- never share your myGov linking codes, passwords or answers to your secret questions.
Remember, Services Australia will never ask you to pay for their services. If you need to speak with someone in your language to claim assistance, they have interpreters available. Call 131 202 and they will help.
If you think you have been scammed, you can call the Scams and Identity Theft Helpdesk on 1800 941 126. If you need an interpreter, let them know and they will arrange one for free. Or go to servicesaustralia.gov.au/scams for more information in your language.
