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Possible scam alert

The Department of Social Services (DSS) has recently received reports that members of the public have been contacted via phone and social media, by an individual or individuals offering government grant funding.

Examples of recent Scams

  • Some members of the public have reported the individuals claimed they were from the ‘Department of Social Services’, ‘Australian Grants Commission’ or the ‘Australian Government Grant Department’. Instructions were provided to the member of public on how to access their grant funding, which included paying a fee.
  • A member of public is contacted by someone advising they are from the Community Grants Hub and advised they had been successful in a recent grant round (caller may mention a specific round) and asked to provide specific personal or business information.

These claims are false and these individuals do not represent DSS or the Commonwealth.

DSS officers do not:

  • cold call members of the public to promise grant funding
  • contact members of the public seeking personal information, such as bank details, passport or license numbers.

It is a serious matter to impersonate a Commonwealth public official. It may even be a criminal offence carrying a penalty of imprisonment in some circumstances.

What to do if approached or if you need assistance

If approached in this manner, do not give any personal information. If you are uncomfortable with the nature of the call or approach, simply hang up.

We encourage you to report incidents of this nature. You can visit Scamwatch on www.scamwatch.gov.au to report to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), and you can contact the DSS fraud reporting hotline on 1800 133 611.

If you contact DSS in the first instance, we will obtain as many details as possible from you about the incident, including your contact details. If appropriate, DSS will refer it to the police or other relevant authority including the ACCC.

If you have already provided information to a caller or are concerned that a crime has or may be committed, please immediately contact the police, your bank or the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) if it relates to your passport details.

 

Open grants

Destination Australia Program 2022 (Round 3)

Category

Higher Education
Vocational Education

Closing Date & Time

The Destination Australia grant opportunity aims to attract and support international and domestic students to study in regional Australia, to grow and develop regional Australian tertiary education providers and offer students a high quality learning experience.  View grant

Volunteer Management Activity – 2021–2026 VMA

Category

Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Not-for-Profits Infrastructure

Closing Date & Time

The objective of the Volunteer Management Activity is to create a thriving volunteering culture, which meets the changing demands for capable and committed volunteers in local communities across Australia. View grant

Grants-in-Aid

Category

Veterans

Closing Date & Time

The program is a single annual grant offer for the 2021—22 financial year which aims to fund discrete projects or activities by national ESOs that address a specific problem or issue and will achieve a clear benefit to the ex-service and Defence community. View grant

Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program

Category

Commemorative

Closing Date & Time

The Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program aims to preserve Australia’s wartime heritage and to involve people around the country in a range of projects and activities that highlight the service and sacrifice of Australia’s service personnel in wars, conflicts and peace operations. View grant

View all grants