Australians have been warned of websites promoting an $890 cost of living "bonus payment" they claim will be issued by Centrelink this month.
They have emerged in recent weeks and claim payments to help "with the cost of living" will be made by the end of October.
But claims made on the websites are false, Services Australia has confirmed, adding that they're an attempt by scammers to steal Australians' MyGov credentials.
A Services Australia spokesperson confirmed to SBS News that it is aware of the "clickbait" scam and that it's just one of several related phishing scams.
SBS News understands that scammers are creating the websites much faster than regulators can shut them down.
How do the clickbait scams work?
Scammers have created websites and social media posts advertising a new "one-off payment", "Centrelink cash relief payment" or "bonus payment".
They claim the payment is being made for a variety of reasons including including help with the cost or assistance for concession card holders.
They offer varying amounts of money, including $750 and $1,800.
The phrase '$890 bonus payment centrelink' was trending via Google search late last week — results for which pointed to articles referencing a one-off payment that would be made by the end of October.
None of the payments exist, and the only way that Services Australia advertises changes to payments is through its official websites and social media channels.
Services Australia says if a website URL doesn’t end in ".gov.au" it isn’t an official government website and could be a scam.
How do phishing scams work?
The scam websites often offer a tool for people to "check their eligibility status", which requires them to enter personal data into a fake calculator.
Scammers can then access a person's account and lock the victim out.
In some cases, they make fraudulent MyGov claims for money.
Services Australia recommends people set up a verbal password to better protect their account.
In other kinds of phishing scams, , telephone or internet service provider.
Australians have lost more than $134 million to scams this year, according to Scamwatch data. Phishing scams account for the third-highest losses, following investment scams and romance scams.
into the security of Australian MyGov accounts published in August found hackers were exploiting Medicare and Centrelink accounts through the myGov platform.
They were doing this by linking them to bogus myGov accounts and then making bogus tax claims worth thousands of dollars, or falsely claiming support payments.
