AN INTERNET scammer is posing as Medicare and Centrelink staff, trying to trick clients of the agencies into parting with personal details for identity fraud, warns the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Phishing scams are nothing new, says the ACCC's website SCAMwatch.
The website says the Medicare/Centrelink scammer offered cash and holiday prizes as rewards for participating in a survey. The scammer then asked recipients intimate and inappropriate questions.
Government agencies and banks do not contact you unexpectedly by phone, email or social networking sites to update their records. Typically, they will phone as a follow-up to a letter or a previous phone call, says SCAMwatch.
The website reminds consumers to be wary of all out-of-the blue phone calls and emails supposedly from banks and government agencies. If in doubt, get their name and contact number and do not call back until you are convinced that it is a genuine request.
People who used Medicare and Centrelink's online services should change their password regularly to protect their information.
To report this scam contact Centrelink or Medicare.
People can also report this matter to the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502 or through the report a scam page on the SCAMwatch website.
