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Aussies warned of ‘myGov’ subsidy message

The scam text claims the recipient needs to update their details with myGov.

Eliza Bavin
·Personal Finance Editor
·2-min read
A composite image of a group of people standing at traffic lights and a copy of the myGov scam text message.
A new myGov scam is doing the rounds, with Aussies warned not to be fooled. (Source: AAP / Services Australia)

Aussies have been told to stay on alert for a new myGov scam text message making the rounds.

Scammers are sending text messages and emails asking Aussies to update their details to get a government subsidy.

“The message includes a link to a fake myGov website. This message is not real. They use this fake myGov website to steal your personal information and myGov sign-in details,” Services Australia said.

“We won't ask you to click on links in a text or email.”

Services Australia encouraged Aussies who had clicked on the suspicious link, given out their myGov sign-in and personal details, or had replied to a suspicious text, to immediately call the Scams and Identity Theft Helpdesk on 1800 941 126.

Scams crackdown

The most recent federal budget provided $10 million over four years to establish a new SMS sender ID registry.

The registry will act as a blocking list and help stop scammers from impersonating major brands and government agencies such as Linkt, myGov, Australia Post or your bank.

Text messages were the leading contact method for scammers, according to the ACCC, making up one in three scam reports, compared to 29 per cent for phone calls.

Scammers are currently able to copy or ‘spoof’ message headers from real brands and send fake messages in the same message thread to appear as genuine messages. Common examples include fake Australia Post delivery text messages or fake ATO ‘refunds’.

So far in 2023, Aussies have lost more than $14.5 million to text message scams from more than 60,000 reports, according to Scamwatch.

Text message scams often aim to steal people's personal or financial information through ‘phishing’. Aussies have lost more than $17.2 million to phishing scams so far this year.

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