Are your Centrelink payments 'on hold'? Here's why you don't have to worry
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The end of the financial year (EOFY) is upon Aussies, and that means discounts and, of course, tax returns and repayments.
If you've seen alarming headlines or posts about your Centrelink Age Pension payments, it's time to take a look at what this could mean.
Scammers are getting more sophisticated, and their latest trick is to spread misinformation online.
Recently, a series of social media posts have claimed that Age Pension recipients must submit updated personal, identity, or financial documents by a specific deadline.
If recipients do not comply in time, Centrelink payments will be suspended or cancelled.
These messages often come from unofficial websites or social media accounts and use urgent, fear-mongering language to get seniors' attention.
Some of these warnings also claim that you could face fines or debt if you don't act fast.
Despite these circulating messages and warnings, the Australian government stood their ground for Centrelink beneficiaries.
Services Australia confirmed that these reports are fake.
'There are fake reports about changes to identity and document requirements,' Services Australia warned.
'Some unofficial websites say your payment might stop unless you re-confirm your identity or provide documents. This is not true.'
Services Australia warned that these fake reminders are out to get personal information.
These 'clickbait' websites and dodgy messages were designed to trick unsuspecting individuals to hand over sensitive details like Tax File Number (TFN), myGov log in details, or bank information.
Once scammers have this, they could use your identity, access your accounts, or commit fraud under your name.
According to Scamwatch, Aussies lost a staggering $119 million to scams in the first four months of 2025.
Phishing scams, where criminals trick individuals into giving up personal info, accounted for $13.7 million of those losses.
This amount was nearly triple the amount Aussies lost to scams in early 2024.
Scammers are not just targeting Age Pension payments, either.
Australian Taxation Office's (ATO) deputy commissioner, Emma Rosenzweig, also issued a warning about fake news regarding superannuation rules.
Commissioner Rosenzweig called these scare tactics' classic fake news' and urged everyone to double-check any information about pension or government payments they see online.
'Beware of websites that might be trying to harvest your personal information,' the ATO warned in a recent article.
'Think twice before acting on information heard from third-party sources, including non-official websites or on social media.'
Here are some red flags everyone should watch out for:
We know how unsettling these scams can be, especially when your financial security is at stake. Have you received any suspicious messages about your pension lately? How do you stay safe online? Share your experiences and tips with us in the comments section below.
If you've seen alarming headlines or posts about your Centrelink Age Pension payments, it's time to take a look at what this could mean.
Scammers are getting more sophisticated, and their latest trick is to spread misinformation online.
Recently, a series of social media posts have claimed that Age Pension recipients must submit updated personal, identity, or financial documents by a specific deadline.
If recipients do not comply in time, Centrelink payments will be suspended or cancelled.
Many seniors look forward to receiving relief or windfalls from Centrelink. Image Credit: ACS Information Age
These messages often come from unofficial websites or social media accounts and use urgent, fear-mongering language to get seniors' attention.
Some of these warnings also claim that you could face fines or debt if you don't act fast.
Despite these circulating messages and warnings, the Australian government stood their ground for Centrelink beneficiaries.
Services Australia confirmed that these reports are fake.
'There are fake reports about changes to identity and document requirements,' Services Australia warned.
'Some unofficial websites say your payment might stop unless you re-confirm your identity or provide documents. This is not true.'
Services Australia warned that these fake reminders are out to get personal information.
These 'clickbait' websites and dodgy messages were designed to trick unsuspecting individuals to hand over sensitive details like Tax File Number (TFN), myGov log in details, or bank information.
Once scammers have this, they could use your identity, access your accounts, or commit fraud under your name.
According to Scamwatch, Aussies lost a staggering $119 million to scams in the first four months of 2025.
Phishing scams, where criminals trick individuals into giving up personal info, accounted for $13.7 million of those losses.
This amount was nearly triple the amount Aussies lost to scams in early 2024.
Scammers are not just targeting Age Pension payments, either.
Australian Taxation Office's (ATO) deputy commissioner, Emma Rosenzweig, also issued a warning about fake news regarding superannuation rules.
Commissioner Rosenzweig called these scare tactics' classic fake news' and urged everyone to double-check any information about pension or government payments they see online.
'Beware of websites that might be trying to harvest your personal information,' the ATO warned in a recent article.
'Think twice before acting on information heard from third-party sources, including non-official websites or on social media.'
Here are some red flags everyone should watch out for:
- Unsolicited messages: If you get an email, text, or social media message out of the blue, especially one that's urgent or threatening, be suspicious.
- Requests for personal info: Centrelink and Services Australia will never ask you to provide sensitive information via email, text, or unofficial websites.
- Strange web addresses: Always check the website address. Official government sites end in .gov.au.
- Poor spelling and grammar: Many scam messages are riddled with spelling and grammatical errors.
- Pressure to act quickly: Scammers want you to panic and act without thinking.
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