Medicare Australia Warns Of Phone Scam

August 9, 2007 – 1:40 am | posted in Medicare

People in Victoria are reminded not to provide their Medicare card details over the phone if they are cold-called, with Medicare Australia warning of a possible scam operating in the state.

Medicare Australia has received a number of complaints this month from people in Melbourne, particularly in the eastern suburbs of the city, who have been contacted by phone and asked to confirm their Medicare details.

“People claiming to work for a telephone company have been calling community members advising they have their Medicare details. The company offers deals on mobile phone services if they confirm those details,” Medicare Australia Program Review Division General Manger Colin Bridge said.

“If you do receive such a call, don’t pass on your details.

“Please get as much information about them as you can, such as the company they claim to be from, any phone number displayed and the time and date of the call.

“Then contact the Australian Government Services fraud tip-off line on 13 15 24.”

Medicare Australia does, on occasion, contact people by phone but this only occurs as a follow-up to written correspondence and proper identification processes are followed.

Mr Bridge said that these reports were a timely reminder of how cautious people must be with their personal details.

http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au

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