The Department of Health is warning people not to open links in scam text messages claiming to be from the Department.
The warning follows the Department being notified about a COVID-19 text message scam.
“If you get a text message from us offering a COVID-19 vaccination benefit payment, do not open the link,” the Department said in a statement.
“The Department of Health will not send you a text message about a COVID-19 vaccination reward,” it said.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Scamwatch website urged people to remain alert to COVID-19 related scams, having received over 6,415 scam reports related to the virus and recorded more than $9,800,000 in reported losses since the beginning of the pandemic.
“Scamwatch is aware of scams relating to COVID-19 vaccines both in Australia and overseas,” the ACCC website said.
“Scammers are pretending to be Government Agencies providing information on COVID-19 through text messages and emails ‘phishing’ for your information,” it said.
“These contain malicious links and attachments designed to steal your personal and financial information.”
Scamwatch said people could avoid falling victim to a vaccination scam by not giving out personal information to someone who called about the vaccine; not clicking on links in unexpected emails or text messages; and not paying to get on a vaccination list.
It said people should be careful when they got unexpected contact or messages – “remember, scammers can impersonate the Government too”.
“Always source phone numbers independently from official Government websites,” it said.
“If you receive unexpected emails or text messages about the vaccine, don’t click on any links.”
Scamwatch said the links may contain malware and could provide scammers with personal information.
