Did Centrelink really send me a text with a link?

No. Services Australia no longer includes links in SMS messages. They will simply tell you to log in to your MyGov account independently.

How do I securely check for real Centrelink letters or payments?

Open your web browser, navigate directly to my.gov.au, log in to your account, and check your Services Australia inbox.

I gave the fake site my Medicare details. What should I do?

Contact Services Australia immediately to secure your account. You may need to cancel and reissue your Medicare card and monitor your credit file for identity theft.

Centrelink Scam Checker

Centrelink scam checker for fake MyGov and payment texts.

Got a text message offering an unexpected Centrelink relief payment, or warning you that your Services Australia account is suspended? Stop. Centrelink does not send links in text messages asking for your login details.

Security Insight

Services Australia (Centrelink, Medicare, Child Support) impersonation is a major Australian scam category. Scammers use the promise of cash or the fear of suspended benefits to steal MyGov credentials.

Instant risk analysis

Checks sender identity

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Detecting fake Centrelink alerts

Attackers exploit people who rely on government support. Watch out for these extremely common Centrelink and Services Australia scam patterns.

The 'Pending Payment' SMS

A text message claiming you have a $500 subsidy or relief payment pending, directing you to click a link to 'claim' it via a fake MyGov portal.

Account suspension threats

Emails claiming your Centrelink services have been restricted due to fraudulent activity and you must re-verify your identity immediately.

Fake Medicare emails

A notification claiming your Medicare card has expired or you are eligible for an uncollected rebate, linking to a fake Services Australia website.

Demanding ID documents for verification

The scam site asks for extremely sensitive information like your driver's license number, passport, and Medicare card, leading to severe identity theft.

What IsThisSpam checks before you trust a sender

Quick verdicts are useful, but the real value is understanding why something looks safe, uncertain, or risky.

Links in text messages

Services Australia stopped sending links in text messages completely. If a text claiming to be from Centrelink has a hyperlink, it is 100% a scam.

Non-.gov.au URLs

If the linked website does not end in my.gov.au or servicesaustralia.gov.au, it is a phishing site.

Promises of unexpected money

Scammers constantly invent fake 'cost of living bonuses' or 'tax subsidies' to trick you into logging into their fake portals.

Spoofed Sender IDs

Scam texts can appear in the same message thread as real Centrelink or MyGov messages.

Related guides

Use the checker for the fast answer, then read the deeper guidance for recurring scam patterns.

ATO Scam Checker

ATO scams frequently overlap with Centrelink impersonation via MyGov.

Read the guide

MyGov Scam Checker

Learn to spot the fake MyGov login pages scammers use.

Read the guide

FAQ

These are the questions people usually ask right before they click, reply, or pay.

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