Staying safe from My Aged Care scams

Scammers deliberately target older people, often around big life moments like organising aged care. The good news is that almost every scam relies on the same handful of tricks, so once you know them, they're much easier to spot.

The My Aged Care scam to watch for

My Aged Care has warned about scammers pretending to be My Aged Care assessors. Here's how to tell the difference:

• A real assessor may call from a private or "No Caller ID" number, and that's normal.
• But a real assessor will never ask for your bank details, your card numbers, or a payment, and won't ask for your myGov password.
• If you're not sure a call is genuine, hang up and call My Aged Care back yourself on 1800 200 422 to check.

Red flags in any call, text or email

Be on guard if someone:

• creates urgency ("act now or you'll lose your funding")
• asks you to keep it secret
• wants you to move money to a "safe account"
• asks for payment by gift cards, wire transfer or cryptocurrency
• asks you to "verify" your Medicare number, bank details or myGov login
• sends a link to click or an attachment to open.

No real government agency or bank will do these things.

The golden rule

If a call or message feels off, stop and verify. Hang up, then phone the organisation back on a number you've found yourself, from an official website, a letter, or the back of your card, not a number the caller gave you. Taking five minutes to check is always worth it, and a genuine caller won't mind.

Protect your details

Never give these to someone who contacts you unexpectedly:

• your Medicare number
• your bank or card details
• your myGov or banking passwords or codes.

If you think you've been scammed

Act quickly, and please don't feel embarrassed. It happens to people of all ages, and reporting helps protect others.

• Contact your bank straight away if you've shared financial details or sent money. Use the number on your card or statement.
• Report it to Scamwatch through the Scamwatch website.
• Report online crime through ReportCyber.
• Get free support from IDCARE, Australia's identity and cyber support service, by visiting the IDCARE website, if your personal information has been compromised.
• Tell someone you trust. A family member or friend can help you take the next steps.

Help in your language

You can use the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 to get help in your language.

Stay safe and avoid My Age Care Scams!

• Real assessors never ask for bank details or payment. If unsure, call My Aged Care back on 1800 200 422.
• Watch for urgency, secrecy, and requests to move money or share details.
• Hang up and verify using a number you found yourself.
• If something goes wrong, call your bank, report to Scamwatch, and ask for help. No shame in it.

This guide is general information. For the latest scam alerts, visit the Scamwatch website or the My Aged Care website.