The Rising Threat of Centrelink Scams in Australia
In recent months, a particularly convincing scam has been making the rounds across social media platforms, text messages, and emails throughout Australia. The scam promises an enticing $1850 “cost of living bonus” supposedly available through Centrelink, targeting vulnerable Australians during financially challenging times.
This isn’t just another generic scam attempt. The criminals behind this scheme have crafted a sophisticated operation that mimics official government communications to a concerning degree. What makes this scam particularly dangerous is its timing – arriving when many families are genuinely struggling with rising living costs and might be desperately hoping for additional government support.
How the $1850 Centrelink Bonus Scam Works
The scam typically begins with an unsolicited communication – perhaps a Facebook post shared by a compromised account, a text message that appears to come from an official government number or an email that looks remarkably similar to legitimate Centrelink correspondence.
The message announces something along these lines: “Good news! You may be eligible for the new $1850 Centrelink cost of living support payment. Click here to check your eligibility and claim your payment.”
When unsuspecting victims click the link, they’re directed to a website that bears an uncanny resemblance to the official myGov or Centrelink portal. The fake site will request:
- Your full name
- Date of birth
- Medicare number
- Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN)
- Banking details for the “deposit”
- Tax File Number
- Sometimes even identification document details
Also Read: Who Gets the $1,155 Centrelink Payment in 2025 Check Now
The Red Flags Everyone Should Know
While the scam is sophisticated, several telltale signs can help you identify it:
Unsolicited communications: Centrelink does not randomly reach out about bonuses via text, social media, or email without prior notification through your myGov account.
Urgent timeframes: The scam often creates false urgency, claiming the “bonus” must be claimed within a short timeframe, pushing victims to act hastily without proper verification.
Suspicious links: Official Centrelink communications will direct you to legitimate government domains ending in .gov.au, not suspicious look-alike URLs.
Requests for unnecessary information: Centrelink already has your details on file and would never ask for comprehensive identification information through an unsolicited message.
Poor grammar or spelling: While this scam is more polished than many others, careful readers might still spot subtle errors in the text that wouldn’t appear in official communications.
Real-Life Impact: Sarah’s Story
Sarah Jenkins, a 58-year-old disability pensioner from Geelong, nearly fell victim to this scam last month. “I received a text message that looked completely legitimate,” she recalls. “It even had the same sender ID as previous genuine Centrelink messages I’d received.”
Sarah clicked the link and began entering her details, but something felt off when the site asked for her banking password. “That’s when alarm bells started ringing. Centrelink would never need my actual banking password to make a deposit.”
Sarah immediately closed the page and reported the incident to Services Australia and her bank. Fortunately, she hadn’t submitted the form, but the experience left her shaken. “I consider myself fairly tech-savvy, but this scam nearly got me. I can see how easily someone could be tricked, especially if they’re desperate for financial help.”
The Growing Sophistication of Government Impersonation Scams
This Centrelink bonus scam is part of a worrying trend of increasingly sophisticated government impersonation scams. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has reported a significant rise in both the number and quality of these scams over the past year.
Scammers are investing more resources into creating convincing imitations of government websites, communications, and processes. They’re also becoming more targeted in their approach, often using information gathered from data breaches or social media to personalize their attacks.
How Scammers Use Psychology Against You
These scams exploit several psychological factors that make even cautious people vulnerable:
Authority bias: People tend to comply with requests from perceived authorities, like government agencies.
Financial stress: When people are struggling financially, the promise of relief can override normal caution.
Social proof: When scams spread through compromised social media accounts, seeing “friends” share the information lends it credibility.
Familiarity: By mimicking the exact look and feel of legitimate services, scammers create a false sense of security.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Family
Taking proactive steps to protect yourself is essential in today’s digital landscape:
Verify independently: Never click links in unsolicited messages. Instead, log into your myGov account directly through your browser or the official app to check for any notifications.
Call to confirm: If you’re uncertain about a communication claiming to be from Centrelink, call their official hotline (132 850) to verify its legitimacy.
Use official apps: Access government services through their official mobile apps rather than clicking links.
Enable multi-factor authentication: Set this up on your myGov account and other important services to add an extra layer of security.
Stay informed: Regularly check Services Australia’s official scam alerts page for information about current scams.
What to Do If You’ve Already Fallen Victim
If you believe you’ve already provided information to scammers:
- Contact your bank immediately to freeze accounts or stop transactions
- Change your passwords for any compromised accounts
- Report the scam to Services Australia through their Scams and Identity Theft Helpdesk (1800 941 126)
- File a report with ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au/report)
- Monitor your accounts closely for any suspicious activity
- Consider placing a ban on your credit file if you suspect your identity may have been compromised
The Government’s Response and Legitimate Support Available
Services Australia has been working to combat this scam through public awareness campaigns and collaboration with telecommunications providers to block scam messages. They’ve emphasized that any legitimate support payments will be announced through official channels and processed through established systems.
For those genuinely struggling with the cost of living pressures, there are legitimate support options available. The best way to check your eligibility for additional payments is to log into your secure myGov account or speak directly with Centrelink staff at a service center.
Community Awareness Is Our Best Defense
Perhaps our strongest defense against these scams is community awareness. Talk to friends and family, especially those who might be more vulnerable to such scams, like older Australians or those with limited digital literacy. Share information about how to identify scams and what to do if they encounter suspicious communications.
As one cybersecurity expert puts it: “Scammers rely on isolation. When we talk openly about scams and share information, we create a community defense that’s much harder to penetrate.”
The Evolution of Scams
As technology continues to advance, we can expect scams to become even more sophisticated. Artificial intelligence and deepfake technology may soon make it even harder to distinguish between legitimate communications and scams.
This makes developing a healthy skepticism toward unsolicited offers and requests for information more important than ever. The adage “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is” remains relevant, but we might need to update it to: “verify independently, even if it seems completely legitimate.”
By staying informed, cautious, and connected, we can help protect ourselves and our communities from these evolving threats.
FAQs About the Centrelink Bonus Scam
Is there a legitimate $1850 Centrelink bonus payment available?
No, the specific $1850 bonus mentioned in these scams is not a legitimate Centrelink payment.
How can I check if a Centrelink communication is genuine?
Log into your myGov account directly (not through links in messages) or call Centrelink’s official number.
What information should I never provide in response to an unsolicited message?
Never provide banking passwords, PINs, identity document details, or tax file numbers.
Will Centrelink ever contact me via text message?
Centrelink may send reminder texts, but they won’t contain links asking for personal or financial information.
Where can I report Centrelink scams?
Report to Services Australia’s Scams Helpdesk (1800 941 126) and ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au/report).
In this age of increasingly sophisticated scams, our best protection lies in staying informed, maintaining healthy skepticism, and supporting each other through awareness and education. By recognizing the warning signs and taking appropriate precautions, we can help ensure these scammers’ efforts are ultimately unsuccessful.