IF you get a text message from the Australian Government offering a free COVID-19 test kit, it is a scam, with Victoria Police warning western Victorians not to open the link contained within.

The scam offered a free test kit under the guise the recipient of the text had been in close contact with a positive COVID-19 case.

If the recipient clicked on the link, they would be directed to a fake ‘Australian Government’ myGov or Medicare website, that asks for personal information including banking details, which is then used to steal information and money.

Scamwatch data recently showed scam contact methods have changed, with text message scams up 54 per cent between January 1 and May 1 this year, surpassing phone calls previously the most common contact mode.

Smishing is a phishing cybersecurity attack carried out over mobile text messaging, also known as SMS phishing used to that deceive victims into giving personal information to a concealed attacker.

Cybercriminals use smishing to exploit human trust and occurs on many mobile text messaging platforms. 

Typically, they use it to steal personal data, which can then be used to steal money, commit fraud or other cybercrimes.

The government only send text messages advising people of things like a new myGov Inbox message, appointment reminders, payment notifications, or confirmation of changes to details, and would not include links in text messages.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reported recently that Australians are losing more money to scams than ever.

Over $205 million was lost to scams between January 1 and May 1 this year, which is a 166 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, according to Scamwatch data.

The ACCC reported however, that true losses due to scams were most likely much greater, given only around 13 per cent of victims report their losses to Scamwatch.

Most losses over the recent period were to investment scams with $158m lost, an increase of 314 per cent compared to the same period last year.

ACCC deputy chair, Delia Rickard, said they were seeing more money lost to investment scams and were urging all Australians not to trust investment opportunities that seem too good to be true.

Many losses to investment scams involved crypto investments, with $113m reported lost already this year. Cryptocurrency was the most common payment method for investment scams.

“Australians should be very wary of anyone asking them to invest in or transfer money using cryptocurrency, especially if it’s someone you have only met online. Many consumers are unfamiliar with the complexities of cryptocurrency and this can make them more vulnerable to scams,” Ms Rickard said.

Scamwatch has also seen an increase in imposter bond scams that impersonate financial companies or banks and claim to offer government/treasury bonds or fixed term deposits, with $10.9m reported lost this year.

People should call the Scams and Identity Theft Helpdesk straight away, if they have replied to or opened a link in a suspicious text or given someone they don’t know their myGov or other personal details.