Scammers target welfare recipients

The consumer watchdog's Scamwatch has received more than 2200 reports of a Centrelink scam since January.

Scammers pretending to be from the Department of Human Services or Centrelink have ripped $27,000 from their victims.

The consumer watchdog's Scamwatch has received more than 2200 reports of the scam since January.

"If you receive a phone call out of the blue from someone ... claiming that you are eligible for an increase in your pension or benefit - hang up," Australian Competition and Consumer deputy chair Delia Rickard said on Monday.


Share

1 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world