Parents warned about text scam with fraud concerns rife amid Optus data breach

Parents are warning each other not to fall victim to a clever text scam as the Optus data breach puts people on high alert.

Parents are being warned not to fall victim to an elaborate texting scam with concerns for fraud at a high after almost 10 million past and present Optus customers’ data was leaked.

One parent took to social media on Wednesday to share a strange text they had received from an unknown number, attracting hundreds of comments from both parents shocked by the manipulative tactic used and those that had already been targeted.

“Hello Mum, I just dropped my phone down the toilet and I’m messaging you of (sic) my mates number and their phone is dying please could you whatsapp me on 0435870547,” it read.

It is not the first time the scam has emerged, which usually involves the fraudster claiming to be a family member who needs money transferred urgently for a new phone or other reason.

More than 1150 Australians fell victim to the so-called “Hi Mum/Dad” scam in the first seven months of the year, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Scamwatch. Total reported losses amounted to $2.6 million.

The ACCC issued a warning last month after noticing a spike in cases.

Scammers are now texting to lure people on to WhatsApp where they ask for money. Picture: Reddit

The elaborate scam cost Aussies more than $2.8 million this year. Picture: NSW Police

While the messages have been known to be sent on WhatsApp, it appears the scammers have moved on to texting people and manipulating them to get on the app.

You cannot message someone on WhatsApp who does not have the app.

Responding to the parent who started the Reddit thread about the text scam on Wednesday, others shared they had been targeted too.

“I got one very similar, it was credible enough that I had to check with my kids. Text was “Hi mum I’ve smashed my phone. Can you whatsapp me heres my new number XXXXXX XXXXX x, it is urgent please,” one person wrote.

“My mum called me after receiving the same text. Luckily she assumed it was a scam but it’s pretty nefarious,” said another.

Almost 10 million Australians’ information has been compromised in an Optus data breach. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

Scamwatch has warned Australians to watch out for scams following the Optus data breach.

“For some customers identity document numbers such as driver’s licence or passport numbers could be in the hands of criminals,” it said in a statement. “It is important to be aware that you be may be at risk of identity theft and take urgent action to prevent harm.”

People are told to never click a link or provide financial information to someone who contacts you out of the blue.

Advice to protect your personal information following the breach:

• Secure your devices and monitor for unusual activity.

• Change your online account passwords and enable multi factor authentication for banking.

• Check your accounts for unusual activity such as items you haven’t purchased.

• Place limits on your accounts or ask you bank how you can secure your money.

• If you suspect fraud you can request a ban on your credit report.

Optus reveals new breach of Medicare data from hack

Meanwhile, Optus has confirmed that the valid Medicare ID numbers of 14,900 Australians have been exposed to hackers.

The telecommunications giant says it will contact all of the customers who have had their Medicare data breached within 24 hours.

On top of the nearly 15,000 valid Medicare numbers which were exposed, Optus has advised customers that a further 22,000 expired IDs have been accessed.

These customers will also be contacted directly by Optus in the “next couple of days”, something the company says is “out of an abundance of caution”.

“Please be assured that people cannot access your Medicare details with just your Medicare number,” Optus said in a statement on Wednesday night.

“If you are concerned or have been affected, you can replace your Medicare card as advised by Services Australia.”

The federal government is “furious” that Optus took five days to notify it about the breach of Medicare data after the cyberattack was revealed on September 22.

“We were not notified that among passport details, drivers licence details and others that Medicare details had also been the subject of this breach,” Health Minister Mark Butler told ABC Radio.“So we’re very concerned obviously about the loss of this data, and we’re working very hard to deal with the consequences of that.

“We’re looking at (getting people new Medicare numbers). We’ll have more to say about that as soon as we can, but we’re looking at that very closely,” he said.The 36,900 people who had their Medicare data stolen by the hackers are among the nearly 9.8 million Australians who had personal information like names, addresses, passports and drivers licences accessed in the breach.

Originally published as Parents warned about text scam with fraud concerns rife amid Optus data breach