The NDIS is reporting an increase in online scam activity with some participants receiving an email requesting they pay an expected or regular invoice into a different bank account to the one on the invoice.
These are genuine looking emails that will state some urgent or important reason needed to pay the invoice into a different bank account.
This is a fraudulent bank account, and evidence of scamming will not be known until the original invoice provider contacts the account holder about the unpaid account.
If an email looks suspicious:
- Do not reply to the email or pay money into the suggested account
- Call the supplier of the invoice and ask if it they sent the email or requested payment into a different account
- Contact your bank or financial institution if payment has already been made into the fraudulent account, and take steps to recover the payment or freeze the account
- Contact the NDIS fraud reporting hotline on 1800 650 717 or email fraudreporting@ndis.gov.au if there is a suspicion that personal or financial information has been stolen.
The NDIS is updating the NDIS website with further COVID-19 scam alerts, and practical information to help keep personal and financial information safe.
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