- The one rule
- Fake myGov messages to watch for
- How to sign in safely
- Why the scams work
- If you've clicked a link or entered details
- Real myGov messages: what they look like
- Tax time and payment scams
- Emails and calls too
- Should you reply STOP or call the number?
- Helping someone else
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
If you get a text from myGov with a link in it, it's a scam. Services Australia says myGov only ever texts you to say there's a new message in your myGov Inbox, so any text asking you to click a link, update details, claim a refund or scan a QR code is fake.
myGov scams are some of the most convincing in Australia, because they borrow the government's name and arrive when people expect to hear about tax, refunds or payments. The good news is there's one simple rule that catches almost all of them. Here's the rule, the messages scammers use, and what to do if you've already clicked.
The one rule
Services Australia is clear: myGov will only send you a text message to tell you that you've got a new message in your myGov Inbox. It doesn't send links. So any text that contains a link, a form or a QR code and claims to be from myGov is a scam, however official it looks.
Fake myGov messages to watch for
| The message says | Reality |
|---|---|
| Your account details are wrong, click to update them | Scam |
| You can't get a subsidy until you complete your information | Scam |
| A refund is waiting for you to act | Scam |
| Click now or your myGov account will be suspended or frozen | Scam |
| A change was made to your account, click if it wasn't you | Scam |
| You're eligible for a one-off cost of living payment or rebate | Scam |
| Scan this QR code to sign in | Scam |
Every one of these is listed by Services Australia as a scam. They work by creating urgency or offering money, so you act before you think.
How to sign in safely
- Don't click links, fill in forms or scan QR codes in texts or emails.
- Open your web browser and type my.gov.au yourself, or use the official myGov app.
- Sign in and check your myGov Inbox. If there's a real message, it'll be there.
Why the scams work
Scamwatch notes that scam messages are designed to look like they come from the government, businesses you deal with or even family and friends. Many play on the idea that you're owed money, a rebate or a refund you weren't expecting. And the scale is big: Scamwatch reports that scam calls alone cost Australians 141 million dollars in losses in a single year. The fake myGov page a scam link opens usually looks just like the real sign-in page, which is why the "never click" rule matters more than spotting the fake.
If you've clicked a link or entered details
- Stop. Don't enter anything else.
- Sign in to myGov the safe way and change your password straight away.
- Check your myGov account and linked services for changes you didn't make.
- If you entered bank or card details, contact your bank immediately.
- Report the scam to Scamwatch and get help to secure your identity.
myGov's own guidance says that if you've got or responded to a scam, there are steps you can take to protect your account. The sooner you act, the easier it'll be to stop someone using your details.
Real myGov messages: what they look like
A real myGov text says only that you have a new message in your myGov Inbox. It doesn't tell you what the message is about, and it doesn't include a link. To read it, you sign in to myGov yourself. If a text gives you details about a refund, a payment or a problem with your account and asks you to act through a link, that's the giveaway.
Tax time and payment scams
Fake myGov messages tend to cluster around tax time, cost of living payments and changes to government services, because that's when a message about money seems plausible. Scamwatch warns that scammers try to convince people they're owed money, rebates or winnings you didn't expect. If an offer arrives out of the blue, it's worth more suspicion, not less.
Emails and calls too
The same rule applies to emails. Treat any message with a link to sign in to myGov as suspect, and go to my.gov.au yourself instead. If someone calls claiming to be from myGov, Services Australia or the ATO and asks for your password or sign-in code, hang up and contact the agency through its official website.
Should you reply STOP or call the number?
No. Don't reply to the text at all, and don't call any number it gives you. Replying tells the scammer the number is active, and a number in a scam message leads to the scammer, not to Services Australia. Delete it, and if you want to check, sign in to myGov through the app or by typing the address yourself.
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Helping someone else
Older relatives and people new to Australia are common targets. Share the rule: myGov texts never contain links. If they're unsure about a message, they can forward it to you or simply ignore it and sign in through the app.
My verdict
Delete any myGov text with a link and sign in yourself if you're worried. That one habit beats almost every myGov scam, because the scam depends on you clicking. My PCH scam check covers another you've-won pattern, and Amazon KDP in Australia is worth a read if you earn online.
Frequently asked questions
Does myGov send text messages with links?
No. Services Australia says myGov only texts to tell you there's a new message in your myGov Inbox. A myGov text with a link is a scam.
Is a myGov refund text real?
No. Services Australia lists texts saying a refund is waiting for your action as a scam.
How do I sign in to myGov safely?
Type my.gov.au into your browser yourself or use the official myGov app. Don't use links in messages.
What should I do if I clicked a myGov scam link?
Change your myGov password through the real site, check your account, contact your bank if you shared financial details and report the scam.
Does myGov use QR codes to sign in?
Services Australia says a message asking you to scan a QR code to sign in is a scam.
