Scammers are clever, persistent, and unfortunately very active in Australia — and they frequently target retirees. One of the most common scams doing the rounds right now involves a caller pretending to be from Medicare, claiming you’re owed a rebate, that your card needs updating, or that your services are about to be suspended.
This article explains exactly how the scam works, what to watch for, and what to do if you receive one of these calls.
How the Scam Works
The caller sounds professional and authoritative. They might say your Medicare card has expired and needs to be reissued, or that you’re entitled to a significant rebate that will be deposited directly into your bank account — they just need your bank details to process it. In some versions of the scam, they claim your Medicare number has been compromised and needs to be “verified.”
The goal in every case is the same: to get your Medicare number, bank account details, or other personal information that can be used for identity theft or financial fraud.
Scammers can also “spoof” phone numbers, making the call appear to come from a legitimate Medicare or government number. Don’t trust the number on your screen.
What Medicare Will Never Do
This is the most important thing to remember: Medicare will never call you out of the blue and ask for your bank account details, credit card number, or full Medicare number. Full stop.
Medicare communicates primarily through your MyGov account, official letters, or in response to calls you initiate. They do not cold-call people asking for sensitive information.
Red Flags to Watch For
Be immediately suspicious if a caller: claims you’re owed money and needs your bank details to pay it; says your Medicare card or number needs urgent updating; threatens that your services will be cut off if you don’t act immediately; pressures you to stay on the line and not hang up; asks you to confirm personal details “for security purposes.”
What to Do
If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately. Do not press any buttons or engage with automated prompts. Do not call back any number the caller provides.
If you’re concerned the call might have been genuine, find Medicare’s official number on the Services Australia website (servicesaustralia.gov.au) and call them directly to check.
Report the scam to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au — even if you didn’t fall for it. Your report helps authorities track patterns and warn others.
If you believe you may have given out personal or financial information, contact your bank immediately and call Services Australia on 132 011.
Protecting Family Members
Have a calm, matter-of-fact conversation with elderly parents or relatives about this scam. Reassure them that it’s fine to hang up on any call that makes them feel uncomfortable, and that you’d rather they call you to check than give out any information. Consider setting up a simple rule: never give personal details to anyone who calls you — always hang up and call back on a number you find yourself.