Protecting your identity and being cautious of scams is an important part of modern day life.
It’s important to know what the Department of Human Services will do and things we won’t do, so you can help protect yourself. Here are 5 tips to avoid falling for a scam:
- Be cautious when someone calls you saying they are from the government
If you have concerns about the validity of the person calling you, get their contact details and phone them back using one of the Department of Human Service’s publically advertised phone numbers.
- Be wary of hyperlinks in emails
The department will never send you an email with hyperlinks. If you receive an email that claims to be from Centrelink or the Department of Human Services and it contains a hyperlink, don’t open it, and delete the email immediately.
- Think before transferring money
The department will never ask you to transfer money into an account to receive a payment. We will never ask you to provide passwords or PIN numbers to bank accounts. Don’t ever give your credit card or bank details online or over the phone if you are unsure about the validity of the contact.
- Don’t fall for a deal
We don’t do deals. We do not have any arrangements, for example with telephone companies to offer special deals if you receive a payment from us. Be suspicious of anyone trying to tell you otherwise.
- Do your bit to protect others
If you think you have had contact with someone trying to scam you, report it to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Infocentre on 1300 302 502, or “Report a scam” on the SCAMwatch website. You can also report cyber related scams to the Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network.
More information
Read more about how to protect yourself from scams on these websites:
- Department of Human Services website – Scams
- ACCC SCAMwatch website – How to protect yourself
- Moneysmart website – Avoiding scams
- ACORN website – Protect and prevent yourself against cybercrime
