Maybe you’re well-versed in spotting a dodgy text, or you know not to open links from an unknown email.
But in the first half of this year alone, Australians have reported more than $156 million in losses to scams.
These figures are staggering, but it's a reminder that no one's just a number when it comes to scams.
Behind every report is a real person, family or business dealing with the consequences.
Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and knowing what to look out for can help you protect yourself and your personal information.
Anyone can be caught at the wrong moment
If you’re sitting on the sofa, lazily clearing out your inbox, you might be pretty good at spotting a scam email.
But if you’re busy, tired or distracted when a message arrives saying there’s something wrong with your myGov account, it can be much easier to take it at face value.
This is especially true during tax time, when many people are checking their myGov account more often, or expecting messages about their tax return.
Scammers use this heightened activity to try and trick people into handing over their myGov sign in details or personal information.
Scammers often impersonate organisations people know and trust, including Services Australia and the services we look after, like Medicare, Centrelink and myGov.
They can create convincing emails, text messages and websites, impersonate staff on social media or call you pretending to be us.
With Scams Awareness Week running from the 24th to 28th August, it’s a good time to remember three simple steps: Stop. Check. Protect.
Stop before you act
Some common signs of a scam include unexpected requests to act quickly, promises of a financial benefit, or threats of a fine, punishment or loss of payment.
You might receive a text urging you to secure your account through links, or an email warning that you’ll lose your payment unless you update your details.
During tax time, scammers may also send messages designed to look like they relate to your tax return or myGov account.
If you receive something like this, take a moment before you act.
Scammers create urgency because they don’t want to give you time to question whether what they’re saying makes sense.
Services Australia will never ask you to click a link in an email or text message, and we won’t ask you for your myGov sign-in details.
The safest way to access myGov is through the official myGov app or by entering my.gov.au into your browser yourself.
Check who you’re dealing with
Even if something looks or sounds convincing, it’s best to take a minute to double check.
If someone calls you claiming to be from Services Australia and you’re not confident it’s really us, hang up and call us back using a phone number listed on our official website.
We can confirm whether we needed to contact you.
The same applies to suspicious emails, texts and social media messages.
Rather than using the contact details or links you’ve been sent, contact us yourself through an official channel.
While we sometimes reply to comments on our official social media channels, we will never send you a direct message or ask for your personal information (like your myGov sign in details or your Customer Reference Number).
Protect yourself and your account
There are also steps you can take to make your myGov and Centrelink online account more secure.
Next time you sign into myGov, check if you need to complete a security review.
This will show you ways to strengthen your account, like adding a passkey or Digital ID as a more secure sign-in method.
Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help
One of the hardest things about scams is that people sometimes blame themselves, or feel embarrassed about telling someone what happened.
During Scams Awareness Week, it’s important to remember that scams can affect anyone, and talking openly about them helps others recognise the warning signs and take their time before they act.
The best defence against scams isn’t always having the latest tech or the most complicated password or even thinking you know every scam in the book. The best defence is knowing when to slow down, and remember to Stop, Check, Protect.
Don’t be afraid to hang up, ignore a text and check yourself. Scammers want you to react quickly, your advantage is taking your time.
If you think you’ve been scammed and your myGov, Medicare or Centrelink account may be affected, contact our Scams and Identity Theft Helpdesk on 1800 941 126.
Originally published by Yahoo Finance on 23 August 2026.