My mum rang me in a panic last month. She'd received a text saying her Centrelink payment had been suspended and she needed to verify her identity through a link or she'd lose her pension. She's 68, she depends on that payment, and she was about thirty seconds from tapping the link when she thought to call me first.
The text was a scam. The link went to a fake myGov login page, a classic phishing attack, that would have harvested her credentials in about ten seconds flat. But I don't blame her for nearly falling for it, these messages are specifically designed to target people who can't afford to lose their payments. That's what makes Centrelink scams particularly nasty.
Here's what's circulating in 2026 and how to protect yourself.
Scam Texts Circulating Right Now
These are based on real scam texts reported to Scamwatch and ACMA in early 2026. I've changed the URLs but the wording is close to what people are actually receiving.
"Centrelink": "Your payment of $812.40 has been suspended. Update your bank details to avoid disruption: [link]"
"Services Australia": "You have an unclaimed benefit of $1,247.00. Complete identity verification to receive your payment: [link]"
"myGov": "Your tax return has been processed. A refund of $2,340.00 is pending. Confirm your details: [link]"
"Centrelink": "Your concession card is expiring. Renew online to maintain your benefits: [link]"
Every single one follows the same playbook: impersonate a government service, create urgency around money, and include a link. The amounts are specific to look authentic. The language mimics official communications. And they hit hardest during payment weeks when people are expecting money in their accounts.
How Centrelink Actually Contacts You
Understanding how Services Australia really communicates makes spotting fakes much easier.
Services Australia will:
- Send SMS reminders about appointments or reporting dates
- Send texts saying "You have a new message in your myGov Inbox" and direct you to log in through the app
- Contact you by phone from numbers starting with 136
- Send letters by post for important account changes
Services Australia will never:
- Send a text with a clickable link to log in or verify your identity
- Ask for your myGov password, CRN, or tax file number via text
- Threaten to suspend your payment unless you respond to a text immediately
- Text you about unclaimed benefits or unexpected refunds with a link to claim them
- Ask for your bank details via SMS
The golden rule: if a text includes a link and asks you to log in, it's not from Centrelink. Always access myGov by typing the address yourself or using the official app.
Why These Scams Are So Effective
Centrelink scams exploit something powerful: financial anxiety. When your rent depends on a fortnightly payment, a text saying that payment has been suspended triggers genuine fear. You don't stop to analyse the URL, you just want to fix the problem.
Scammers also time their campaigns deliberately. They send more messages around Centrelink payment dates, tax return season (July-October), and during periods when government policy changes are in the news. If people are already worried about changes to their benefits, a scam text about suspended payments lands with even more impact.
The fake myGov login pages are disturbingly accurate. They copy the colour scheme, layout, and branding almost perfectly. Some even include the myGov terms of service at the bottom. The only reliable way to tell them apart from the real site is the URL, and on a phone, that URL might be partially hidden by the browser's address bar.
What to Do If You Clicked the Link
If you tapped a scam link but didn't enter any information, close the page. You're almost certainly fine.
If you entered your myGov login details on a fake page, act immediately:
- Change your myGov password, Go to the real myGov website (my.gov.au) and change your password. Do this from a different device if possible.
- Enable or update your security questions and set up two-factor authentication if you haven't already.
- Check your linked services, Log in to myGov and review your linked services (Centrelink, ATO, Medicare) for any changes you didn't make.
- Call Services Australia on 136 150, Report the compromise so they can flag your account and monitor for suspicious activity.
- Check your bank accounts, If your bank details are stored in your Centrelink account, make sure the BSB and account number haven't been changed. Scammers who access your Centrelink account sometimes redirect payments to their own bank accounts.
- Report to Scamwatch, File a report at scamwatch.gov.au so ACCC can track the scam campaign.
How to Report Centrelink Scam Texts
Reporting takes two minutes and genuinely helps shut these operations down. Here's where to report:
- ACMA: Forward the text to 0429 999 888
- Scamwatch: Report at scamwatch.gov.au
- Services Australia: Call 136 150 or report through the official website
- Your carrier: Forward to 7226 (SPAM)
After reporting, block the sender and delete the message.
Protecting Yourself and Your Family
The people most vulnerable to these scams are often the people least equipped to deal with the consequences, older Australians, people with disabilities, and anyone who relies heavily on Centrelink payments. If you have family members who receive Centrelink, have a conversation with them about these scams. Our guide on protecting parents from online scams has practical tips. Make sure they know that Centrelink will never text them a link to log in.
I set my mum's phone to filter unknown senders into a separate folder, and I showed her how to long-press a link to preview the URL. She's been forwarding me suspicious texts ever since, and every single one has been a scam. She hasn't clicked one yet. That conversation took five minutes and it's probably saved her from a world of trouble.