Services Australia warns recipients to be vigilant over ‘bonus’ Centrelink payments
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As the cost of living continues to rise, many Australians are looking for financial relief, and scammers are exploiting this vulnerability with false promises of 'bonus' payments from Centrelink.
It's a cruel trick that could lead to the loss of personal information and financial security.
Services Australia, the government body responsible for social security payments, has issued a stern warning to Centrelink recipients: be vigilant and don't be misled by unofficial websites and social media accounts claiming to offer a ‘one-off payment’, ‘cash relief payment’, or ‘bonus payment’.
The truth is, there is no such bonus payment being offered by Centrelink.
‘They’re targeting our customers by falsely saying there’s an extra payment coming to help ease the cost-of-living pressures. There is no bonus payment,’ Services Australia said.
‘If you visit one of these websites or click on their links on social media, you’re at risk of being scammed. Don’t trust unofficial websites or social media accounts for advice about Centrelink payments.’
It's important to remember that official communication from Services Australia will only come from verified sources.
The safest way to check for legitimate information about Centrelink payments and services is by visiting the official Services Australia website, which ends in .gov.au.
If you're ever in doubt, you can also call Services Australia directly to verify any information you've received.
In the past, similar scams have targeted older Australians with false claims of extra payments for those on the age pension.
These scams have offered varying amounts of money, including $750 and $1,800, to entice individuals into their traps.
But the deception doesn't stop there. Other scams involve fraudsters impersonating Services Australia officials and calling people to claim they owe an urgent debt.
These scammers use fear tactics, threatening arrest if the supposed debt isn't paid immediately via bank transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
Services Australia's advice is clear: if you receive such a call, hang up immediately.
According to Scamwatch data, Australians have lost over $134 million to scams this year alone, with investment scams leading the way, followed by romance and phishing scams.
The sophistication of these scams has increased, with reports of scammers accessing Australians' Centrelink, Australian Taxation Office, and Medicare accounts by creating fake myGov accounts through a process known as ‘unauthorised linking’.
This involves linking a legitimate myGov account with a fake one set up by the scammer, often without the victim's knowledge.
Have you or someone you know been targeted by a Centrelink-related scam? Share your story in the comments below to help others stay vigilant.
It's a cruel trick that could lead to the loss of personal information and financial security.
Services Australia, the government body responsible for social security payments, has issued a stern warning to Centrelink recipients: be vigilant and don't be misled by unofficial websites and social media accounts claiming to offer a ‘one-off payment’, ‘cash relief payment’, or ‘bonus payment’.
The truth is, there is no such bonus payment being offered by Centrelink.
Services Australia issued a stern warning to Centrelink recipients over fake ‘bonus’ payments. Credit: Shutterstock
‘They’re targeting our customers by falsely saying there’s an extra payment coming to help ease the cost-of-living pressures. There is no bonus payment,’ Services Australia said.
‘If you visit one of these websites or click on their links on social media, you’re at risk of being scammed. Don’t trust unofficial websites or social media accounts for advice about Centrelink payments.’
It's important to remember that official communication from Services Australia will only come from verified sources.
The safest way to check for legitimate information about Centrelink payments and services is by visiting the official Services Australia website, which ends in .gov.au.
If you're ever in doubt, you can also call Services Australia directly to verify any information you've received.
In the past, similar scams have targeted older Australians with false claims of extra payments for those on the age pension.
These scams have offered varying amounts of money, including $750 and $1,800, to entice individuals into their traps.
But the deception doesn't stop there. Other scams involve fraudsters impersonating Services Australia officials and calling people to claim they owe an urgent debt.
These scammers use fear tactics, threatening arrest if the supposed debt isn't paid immediately via bank transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
Services Australia's advice is clear: if you receive such a call, hang up immediately.
According to Scamwatch data, Australians have lost over $134 million to scams this year alone, with investment scams leading the way, followed by romance and phishing scams.
The sophistication of these scams has increased, with reports of scammers accessing Australians' Centrelink, Australian Taxation Office, and Medicare accounts by creating fake myGov accounts through a process known as ‘unauthorised linking’.
This involves linking a legitimate myGov account with a fake one set up by the scammer, often without the victim's knowledge.
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