New scam circulating offers subsidy benefit

Ballina MP Tamara Smith (Greens) is warning the public that an email claiming to be from the Department of Human Services and offering access to a subsidy is a scam.

‘One of my constituents alerted me to the email that he was sent and provided a copy of it. It was quite official-looking and had the Australian Government’s Department of Human Services crest at the top,’ said Ms Smith.

‘The message subject line is ‘Your 2018 Subsidy benefit’ and a heading within the email says ‘The Department of Human Services Subsidy Benefit Allocation’.

‘The email asks the recipient to confirm their eligibility by replying to “this secure email” with their name, date of birth, tax file number and complete home address. It also asks for at least two official documents including bank account details.

‘The Department of Human Services says this ‘subsidy benefit’ does not exist and that it never asks for personal information by email, SMS or Facebook.

‘Please do not reply to the email if you receive it and do not click on any links that might be in it. The best thing to do with the email is to delete it,’ said Ms Smith.

The department added, it will never: ask clients to follow hyperlinks in emails; download files from the internet or open attachments in emails you’re not expecting; give passwords or PIN numbers to your bank accounts; pay a fee to get your payment or service; buy gift cards or vouchers, such as iTunes

Don’t provide your personal details if you’re unsure of the person contacting you. Ask for the person’s contact details and phone back via a main switchboard number.

 

 

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