Protect your Medicare benefits: Beware of the new text scam targeting vulnerable Australians
- Replies 4
Amid the current cost-of-living crisis, a new text message scam made rounds, warning 'suspended' access to Medicare unless Australians provide their personal information.
This scam, which has seen a significant increase in recent months, was particularly insidious as it targeted vulnerable individuals who rely heavily on government services.
The scam involved a text message or email that appeared to be from Medicare.
The message claimed that the recipient had lost access to the service provider and prompted them to click a link for more information.
Once the recipient clicked the link, they were asked to update their payment and personal details using a one-time PIN.
'There is currently a wave of scams contacting people pretending to be from Medicare,' a Services Australia spokeswoman said, confirming that the message was a scam.
She also stated that the agency is currently dealing with a surge in reports related to this issue.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has noted the increase in such scams.
'Between January 1 and February 25, Scamwatch received 1,492 reports of scams impersonating Medicare via SMS, with losses of $1,259,' an ACCC spokeswoman said.
She continued: ‘Reports to Scamwatch have indicated an upward trend in reports of phishing scams impersonating a range of government agencies over the seven-week period [between January 1 and February 25].’
The Services Australia spokeswoman expressed disappointment that Medicare was being exploited in a broader trend of scams targeting vulnerable people through government services.
'It’s an unfortunate reality that scammers regularly impersonate trusted organisations to try and steal money or personal information, which can be used to commit fraud and identity theft,' she said.
Authorities believed that the current cost-of-living crisis has made many Australians more susceptible to scams than ever before.
Dr Kam-Fung Cheung, a Cybersecurity Expert at the University of Sydney, published work on the topic last year and said the use of Medicare was particularly insidious.
'Let's say you're having money difficulties and you go to the doctor, and then you find out you need to pay the full consultation fee,' he said. '[A text offering a rebate] will be perfect.'
Dr Cheung also pointed out that the scam is taking advantage of people relying on Medicare to access important services.
'Especially nowadays…people worry if they don't have the benefit, they'll have to pay for expensive services from a [general practitioner], and this could push them to talk more about a situation which could help the scammer get more information,’ he explained.
While it is reassuring to see services warn people about scams, they are becoming more common.
'In the past few months [especially] through texts and email,' Dr Cheung said.
So, how can you protect yourself from falling victim to such scams?
Firstly, be aware that government agencies like Medicare never ask for personal information via text or email. If you receive a suspicious message, do not click on any links or provide any personal information.
Instead, contact the agency directly using a verified phone number or email address.
You can also check Services Australia’s verified social media accounts for any scam warnings. For instance, the department posted a similar warning on February 26:
Second, regularly check your bank and credit card statements for any unusual activity. If you notice anything suspicious, contact your bank immediately.
Third, educate yourself about the latest scams and how they operate. Stay informed about the tactics scammers use and the types of messages they send.
We have several stories about similar scams in our Scam Watch forum:
While it's unfortunate that scammers are exploiting the current crisis to target vulnerable Australians, being aware of their tactics and taking steps to protect yourself can help you avoid falling victim to these scams.
Stay vigilant, stay informed, and stay safe.
Have you or someone you know encountered this scam? Share your experiences and tips for avoiding scams in the comments below.
This scam, which has seen a significant increase in recent months, was particularly insidious as it targeted vulnerable individuals who rely heavily on government services.
The scam involved a text message or email that appeared to be from Medicare.
The message claimed that the recipient had lost access to the service provider and prompted them to click a link for more information.
Once the recipient clicked the link, they were asked to update their payment and personal details using a one-time PIN.
The scam message claimed that the recipient’s Medicare service was ‘suspended’. Image source: @c3convertase/X (Twitter)
'There is currently a wave of scams contacting people pretending to be from Medicare,' a Services Australia spokeswoman said, confirming that the message was a scam.
She also stated that the agency is currently dealing with a surge in reports related to this issue.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has noted the increase in such scams.
'Between January 1 and February 25, Scamwatch received 1,492 reports of scams impersonating Medicare via SMS, with losses of $1,259,' an ACCC spokeswoman said.
She continued: ‘Reports to Scamwatch have indicated an upward trend in reports of phishing scams impersonating a range of government agencies over the seven-week period [between January 1 and February 25].’
The Services Australia spokeswoman expressed disappointment that Medicare was being exploited in a broader trend of scams targeting vulnerable people through government services.
'It’s an unfortunate reality that scammers regularly impersonate trusted organisations to try and steal money or personal information, which can be used to commit fraud and identity theft,' she said.
Authorities believed that the current cost-of-living crisis has made many Australians more susceptible to scams than ever before.
Dr Kam-Fung Cheung, a Cybersecurity Expert at the University of Sydney, published work on the topic last year and said the use of Medicare was particularly insidious.
'Let's say you're having money difficulties and you go to the doctor, and then you find out you need to pay the full consultation fee,' he said. '[A text offering a rebate] will be perfect.'
Dr Cheung also pointed out that the scam is taking advantage of people relying on Medicare to access important services.
'Especially nowadays…people worry if they don't have the benefit, they'll have to pay for expensive services from a [general practitioner], and this could push them to talk more about a situation which could help the scammer get more information,’ he explained.
While it is reassuring to see services warn people about scams, they are becoming more common.
'In the past few months [especially] through texts and email,' Dr Cheung said.
So, how can you protect yourself from falling victim to such scams?
Firstly, be aware that government agencies like Medicare never ask for personal information via text or email. If you receive a suspicious message, do not click on any links or provide any personal information.
Instead, contact the agency directly using a verified phone number or email address.
You can also check Services Australia’s verified social media accounts for any scam warnings. For instance, the department posted a similar warning on February 26:
Second, regularly check your bank and credit card statements for any unusual activity. If you notice anything suspicious, contact your bank immediately.
Third, educate yourself about the latest scams and how they operate. Stay informed about the tactics scammers use and the types of messages they send.
We have several stories about similar scams in our Scam Watch forum:
- Protect your wallet: Discover these stealthy scams before it's too late!
- Urgent warning: Delete this fake app immediately to protect your passwords!
- Scammer swindles $18,000 from war veteran: 'It was extremely convincing'
- Protect your wallet: How this simple phone trick cost a woman $50,000
While it's unfortunate that scammers are exploiting the current crisis to target vulnerable Australians, being aware of their tactics and taking steps to protect yourself can help you avoid falling victim to these scams.
Stay vigilant, stay informed, and stay safe.
Have you or someone you know encountered this scam? Share your experiences and tips for avoiding scams in the comments below.
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and said when are you going to learn.
