Nick Bruining: How a diligent Your Money reader took down disgusting Centrelink con artists

A new phishing scam targeting seniors and identified by a Your Money reader has triggered a renewed warning from WA Police after enquiries by The West Australian prompted a shut down order.

Retired financial planner Lesley Dewar, who lives in Busselton, said she came across the ncab.org.au site when Google presented an article promising a $400 payment to Centrelink customers.

“I was naturally curious, and when I clicked the link it took me to the site that said almost anyone could get the payment,” Ms Dewar said.

“It gave some instructions on how to claim, but then offered to keep me updated if I provided my contact details.”

Financial planner Annette Sinclair, who specialises in Centrelink matters, said a number of clients had contacted her asking about the payment.

“We’re quick to tell them that this $400 payment is rubbish, as well as another similar site suggesting that there’s a $4000 payment available from Centrelink for hardship,” Mrs Sinclair said.

The site claimed to have links to the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, which was established a year after the deaths of six-year-old Allanah Mikac and her three-year-old sister Madeline who were murdered during the Port Arthur shooting tragedy in Tasmania in 1996.

Spokeswoman Simone Redman-Jones said the foundation was the original owner of the site — the National Centre Against Bullying, which was established in 2002.

“It appears that NCAB’s old website address had been co-opted and was being used in a nefarious manner and misrepresenting an affiliation with the Alannah & Madeline Foundation,” Ms Redman-Jones said.

A WA Police cybercrime investigations unit spokesman said the website had not previously been reported to them. A review of the site was conducted after The West contacted police.

“The officers believe there are some indications of potential suspicious activity, so they have reported the website and requested it be taken down,” the spokesman said.

“If someone is offering something, and it sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Nobody gives away free money, offers ridiculous discounts, sells items way under price or provides massive returns on investments.”

Services Australia — the agency behind Centrelink — said on its website that while it does sometimes call customers, people should still be wary of unexpected phone calls claiming to be a Centrelink worker.

“Ask for the caller’s name and contact details,” it said. “Then you can call us on one of our payment lines to check. Don’t try to call us using a phone number someone has given you, as it might be fake. You can look up the correct number on our phone us page.”

Centrelink also said it would never ask customers to reply by email or text message to any electronic message it sends you. It would also not ask you to click on links or attachments — except for links in its official social media accounts or in your myGov inbox, click on internet links in a text message to upload documents, pay us money to get a payment or benefit, transfer money to get a payment or buy gift cards or vouchers.

Suspicious websites should be reported to the National Anti-Scam Centre or by calling 1300 302 502.

“The lesson here is don’t simply assume the authorities already know,” Mrs Sinclair said.

Nick Bruining is an independent financial adviser and a member of the Certified Independent Financial Advisers Association