A scam involving Medicare has come to our attention, with text messages being sent, advising people to get tested for COVID-19. The messages are stating that individuals have been in close contact with someone who has contracted COVID-19 and must order a ‘free’ Test Kit by clicking a suspicious link. The link then takes them to a convincing webpage that requires individuals to input personal information, much like Medicare would require. In order to stay two steps ahead and avoid getting scammed we've provided some info to help you out.
SMS Message
The scam text message tells recipients to order a free PCR test kit and directs them to a website that imitates Medicare.
The link in these fake Medicare texts will direct you to a phishing website that will ask for personal information. DO NOT ENTER YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION.
Although Medicare do send text messages to people, they only send them in regards to the following:
reminding you to go to appointments
letting you know they've paid you
confirming changes to your details
letting you know you’ve got a new myGov Inbox message.
They won’t include links in text messages.
myGov email scams have also been making the rounds since 2017, tricking people into disclosing personal information such as their credit card information and ID.
People have been sent a phishing email with a fake landing page to the myGov website, where they were asked to verify their account by supplying credit card information and scanning their ID. Once account details are harvested and credit card details are provided, people are redirected to the actual myGov website in an attempt to hide the deception of the scam.
The fake emails look eerily similar to the real myGov emails with the same layout and design features. But to tell if it's a fake email, always look at the sender's email address or the website domain of the link that's included in the email. The scammers have been using mygov.net or no-reply@mygov.net which are a fake domain and email address originating from servers hosted in the Czech Republic, which has no association with the real myGov.
What to do
Remember that Medicare will never ask for individuals to click on links or attachments except links to their official website, verified social media accounts or myGov inbox.
If you do get one of these scam SMS messages or emails, make sure you do the following so you can stay safe:
Report then delete any suspicious messages from Medicare
Never reply with personal information over text, email or phone calls unless you are able to verify the caller or sender.
Related reading:
If you have any questions or need extra support, we're here to help you anytime in any language. Simply start a chat with us via the home screen of the Sonder app to connect to our team of qualified, caring health professionals.
Information sourced from Services Australia, CRN
Image credit: ROBIN WORRALL on Unsplash
All content is created and published for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional.