Fake Centrelink Youth Allowance or Student Tax Scam
Scammers impersonate Centrelink to target students and young Australians, claiming that a Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY payment requires tax file number re-verification or that a student tax credit overpayment debt must be repaid immediately through a link.
Part of: Fake Student Tax Scams
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Centrelink administers Youth Allowance and ABSTUDY, payments that many Australian students rely on during their studies. The combination of the Centrelink brand, a familiar payment type, and a student demographic that may be less experienced with government communication makes this a productive target for scammers.
Messages claim either that a Youth Allowance payment is being withheld because the student's tax file number requires verification, or that a false tax-credit overpayment debt has been identified and must be repaid to avoid legal action. Both pretexts direct recipients to a fake myGov or Centrelink portal that harvests TFN, myGov credentials, and banking details.
Centrelink reviews of student payments and TFN verification are conducted through the myGov inbox and through correspondence sent to the address on the student's Centrelink account. Centrelink does not send text messages containing links to payment portals for TFN verification or debt repayment.
How this scam works on the Centrelink brand
A text reads: 'Centrelink: Your Youth Allowance payment has been suspended. Your tax file number requires immediate verification. Log in now: [link].' The link leads to a spoofed myGov page that captures myGov username, password, and TFN.
Some messages claim a Youth Allowance overpayment debt of $300 to $600 has been raised and must be repaid within 48 hours to avoid credit reporting or Centrelink debt recovery action. A link to a fake Centrelink payment portal collects bank account details.
Students receiving ABSTUDY are also targeted, with messages claiming a change in their enrolled status has triggered a verification requirement. The scam is particularly effective at the start and end of academic semesters when students are actively monitoring their Centrelink payments.
Common red flags
- Text claiming Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY is suspended pending TFN verification via a link
- Demand to repay an 'overpayment debt' through a link rather than through the myGov portal
- Link does not go to my.gov.au or servicesaustralia.gov.au
- Request for myGov username and password on a non-myGov page
- Message uses urgency: debt or suspension resolved within 24 to 48 hours
- Email sender is not @servicesaustralia.gov.au
- Sudden message timed at the start or end of an academic semester
How to protect yourself
- Log in to your myGov account at my.gov.au directly to check for any genuine Centrelink notices
- Call the Centrelink Student line at 132 490 to verify any claimed account issue
- Never enter your myGov username or password on any site other than my.gov.au
- Set up two-factor authentication on your myGov account
- Report the phishing message to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au
- Forward smishing texts to 7226 (Scamwatch SMS)
- If myGov credentials were entered, change your password immediately and enable 2FA
How to report it
- Report to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au
- Report to the Australian Cyber Security Centre at cyber.gov.au/report
- Forward smishing texts to 7226
- Contact Services Australia at servicesaustralia.gov.au if you believe your account is compromised
- Report to the ACCC if financial loss occurred
Frequently asked questions
How does Centrelink notify students about genuine account issues?
Centrelink sends notifications through your myGov inbox, which you access at my.gov.au. It also sends letters by post for formal decisions. Centrelink does not send text messages with links to verify your TFN or repay debts.
What is a TFN and why do scammers want it?
A Tax File Number (TFN) is your unique identifier for the Australian tax system. With your TFN, date of birth, and myGov credentials, a fraudster can access your ATO account, redirect tax refunds, and make fraudulent benefit claims.
What should I do if I entered my myGov credentials on a fake site?
Change your myGov password immediately at my.gov.au, enable two-factor authentication, and check your linked accounts (ATO, Centrelink, Medicare) for any unauthorised changes. Contact the ATO and report to the ACSC at cyber.gov.au/report.