Australians told to delete Medicare scam text message warning they are a ‘close contact’ with an Omicron COVID case

A spokesperson for Services Australia, which is linked to Medicare, confirmed to SkyNews.com.au the text is a scam.

Australians have been warned to delete a text message after a scammer pretending to be Medicare urged recipients to click on a dodgy link.

The text message, which was sent to Australians over the past week, advised recipients they have been in contact with “someone who has contracted Omicron”.

The scammer, disguised as Medicare, demanded recipients to order a free PCR test kit before directing them to a website that imitates the health care scheme.

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“Medicare: You have been in close contact with someone who has contracted Omicron,” the text message said.

“You must order a free PCR Test Kit.”

A spokesperson for Services Australia, which is linked to Medicare, confirmed to SkyNews.com.au the text is a scam.

Services Australia says scammers can make contact pretending to be them via email, text message, social media, phone or post.

“They may ask you to confirm your details by opening an internet link or responding with personal information,” the website said.

“We’ll never ask you to click on links or attachments, except for links:

Australians have lost more than $205 million to scams between January 1 and May 1 2022, according to ScamWatch, a website run by the ACCC.

Scamwatch data warns contact methods are changing with text messages up 54 per cent…

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