Beware of scams
DVA is warning veterans to be cautious of potential scammers operating online.
We would like to remind veterans and their families to be vigilant and protect themselves from any incident that may compromise their private or personal information.
If you are a veteran, or know someone who is a veteran, please pass on the following tips:
- If you receive a phone call or letter asking for your DVA client number or banking details, do not provide them. Contact your nearest DVA office to confirm the request is legitimate.
- Be cautious if you are contacted out of the blue by someone claiming to be from any government department requesting personal information. Always contact the organisation before responding, using contact details from a trusted source.
- Never give personal details to someone you do not know and trust.
- Never provide information such as passwords, tax file numbers or bank account details via email links.
- Do not open suspicious texts or click on links or attachments in emails received from unknown or unexpected sources.
- If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.
- If you think you have provided your DVA number to a scammer, contact the nearest DVA office.
If you, or someone you know, has been approached by someone posing as a DVA representative please contact your nearest DVA office.
If you have shared personal information and believe you may be at risk, you can contact IDCARE, a not-for-profit organisation that provides assistance and support to victims of identity theft and other cybercrime. Visit idcare.org or phone 1800 595 160.
For additional information about scams, visit scamwatch.gov.au — you can also subscribe to a free alert service to receive updates about the latest scams.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre also provides advice for individuals, a free alert service to help you understand the latest online threats and the ability to report online crimes via the ReportCyber page.