Scam Alerts
With the timing of the budget announcement and the election being called the Department of Social Services (DSS) expects an increase in Government material online and on social media, and the opportunity for potential scams.
A number of scams have been reported that specifically reference the ‘Community Grants Hub’ or Department of Social Services’, that have a convincing email address, as well as the Enid Lyons Building physical location address.
If you are contacted by one of these scam attempts, do not provide any personal or financial information.
Scams and how to report them
If you are concerned that a phone call, SMS, voicemail or email claiming to be from the ATO, the Community Grants Hub or the Department of Social Services is not genuine, do not reply to it. We encourage you to:
- report the scam to the National Anti-Scam Centre on the Scamwatch website
- you can also report it to the relevant government department using the contact details on their website
- for scams relating to the Department of Social Services contact the fraud reporting hotline on 1800 054 312, or email the fraud mailbox at [email protected]
- contact the ATO on 1800 008 540.
If you have already provided information 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.
It is important to know that Departmental officers at the Department of Social Services do not:
- cold call members of the public to promise grant funding
- contact members of the public through social media or email to offer grant opportunities. Legitimate grant opportunities are published on GrantConnect at www.grants.gov.au. Legitimate grants will never require the recipient to pay a fee to access the amounts, and debit cards are not used to disburse grant payments
- 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.
Further advice on scams and information on where to get help if you think you have been scammed is available from the National Anti-Scam Centre Scamwatch website.
If you think you have been scammed, find out where to get help.
