Post by Banjo on Mar 2, 2011 12:57:43 GMT 7
Medicare Australia and Centrelink today urged Australians to watch out for hoax telephone calls from people pretending to work for the agencies.
“Both agencies have recently received reports of fraudsters who are exploiting the public’s trust in Australian Government officers,” Human Services Portfolio General Manager Hank Jongen said.
“According to reports, a number of callers have quoted Medicare card numbers or other personal details and offered prizes for responding to inappropriate or obscene questions or participating in certain activities.
“Medicare Australia is not responsible for these telephone calls.
“Under no circumstances should you provide your Medicare card number or other personal details to these callers.
“I encourage anyone who receives a phone call along these lines to terminate the call immediately.”
Medicare Australia does not contact individuals to offer cash or other prizes for answering questions or participating in any activities, either by telephone or through any other communication method.
Mr Jongen said there have recently been reports of scammers who have posed as Centrelink staff members in an attempt to gain personal details from customers.
“These personal details can then be used to commit identity fraud and other such criminal activity,” Mr Jongen said.
“If you have any doubts, don’t provide your personal details.”
People who suspect a possible identity fraud phone scam has occurred are encouraged to report any details like the phone number, time, date, gender and accent of the caller to the Australian Government’s designated fraud tip-off line on 13 15 24 and alert their local police station.
www.theislanderonline.com.au/news/local/news/general/medicare-warns-of-hoax-callers/2086369.aspx?src=rss
“Both agencies have recently received reports of fraudsters who are exploiting the public’s trust in Australian Government officers,” Human Services Portfolio General Manager Hank Jongen said.
“According to reports, a number of callers have quoted Medicare card numbers or other personal details and offered prizes for responding to inappropriate or obscene questions or participating in certain activities.
“Medicare Australia is not responsible for these telephone calls.
“Under no circumstances should you provide your Medicare card number or other personal details to these callers.
“I encourage anyone who receives a phone call along these lines to terminate the call immediately.”
Medicare Australia does not contact individuals to offer cash or other prizes for answering questions or participating in any activities, either by telephone or through any other communication method.
Mr Jongen said there have recently been reports of scammers who have posed as Centrelink staff members in an attempt to gain personal details from customers.
“These personal details can then be used to commit identity fraud and other such criminal activity,” Mr Jongen said.
“If you have any doubts, don’t provide your personal details.”
People who suspect a possible identity fraud phone scam has occurred are encouraged to report any details like the phone number, time, date, gender and accent of the caller to the Australian Government’s designated fraud tip-off line on 13 15 24 and alert their local police station.
www.theislanderonline.com.au/news/local/news/general/medicare-warns-of-hoax-callers/2086369.aspx?src=rss
