Yahoo Finance Medicare scam warning: ‘Update your medical records’
Aussies have been told to ignore and delete this message.
Aussies are being urged to think twice if they receive this email from ‘Medicare’ in their inboxes.
Scammers are impersonating the healthcare scheme and sending emails to Aussies to try to trick them into handing over their personal details.
The email, shared by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Scamwatch, claims the recipient’s Medicare services have been suspended because of a lack of information regarding their medical records.
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“In order to reactivate your Medicare services without delay, please complete the form below with the required information,” the scam email reads.
“This process will enable us to update your medical records quickly and efficiently.”
The email, which includes the Medicare logo and branding, then includes a link for the recipient to click to update their details.
‘Ignore, delete and report’
Scamwatch has advised Aussies to ignore and delete the fake Medicare email if they receive it.
“Fake emails impersonating Medicare are doing the rounds, claiming Medicare services have been suspended,” Scamwatch said.
“Ignore the email and the instruction to reactivate your Medicare services - it's a scam. Ignore, delete, and report to Scamwatch.”
Services Australia said it would never ask you to click on links or attachments, except for links in its official social media accounts or in your myGov inbox. It will also never ask you for money to release your information or to fix your account.
If you do click on a suspicious link or give your personal information, Services Australia recommends calling its Scams and Identity Theft Helpdesk on 1800 941 126.
$3.1 billion lost to scams
Aussies lost a record $3.1 billion to scams last year, 80 per cent more than the total losses recorded in 2021.
The ACCC’s latest Targeting Scams report found investment scams were the highest loss category ($1.5 billion), followed by remote-access scams ($229 million) and payment-redirection scams ($224 million).
The top contact method was text message, followed by phone, email, the internet and social networking or online forums.
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