What is an Online NDIS Scam
A scam is an illegal trick. NDIS scams usually try to get money or personal information illegally from NDIS participants. A scam is a type of fraud.
Scams target NDIS Participants of all backgrounds and ages across Australia.
Why do we fall for online scams?
Scams succeed because they look like the real thing and catch you off guard when you’re not expecting it.
Scammers are getting smarter.
They take advantage of new technology, new products or services and major events to create believable stories that will convince you to give them your money or personal information.
Types of Phone or Online NDIS Scams
Impersonation scam
Participants have reported receiving calls from scammers pretending to be from the NDIA.
The scammers will usually claim that there is a debt against your plan and that you will lose access to the NDIS if you don’t provide them with personal information including bank details, addresses, and Medicare details.
They may also ask Participants to repay these ‘debts’.
The call can sometimes appear to come from a legitimate provider.
Scammers can even ‘spoof’ a provider’s phone number and it will show up on your phone. Sometimes these calls will come from a private number.
The NDIA will never call you and threaten to cancel your access to the NDIS because of a debt.
NDIS Invoicing Scams
Scammers will sometimes send false invoices via email to NDIS Participants.
These emails will often look like the real thing and will ask you to pay an invoice into an account that is different to the usual account you pay money into.
If you receive one of these emails, you should call your NDIS Provider and ask them whether they sent this email.
If they didn’t, you should report it to the NDIA immediately.
What if you have accidentally paid the invoice?
You should:
- change your email account passwords
- contact your bank or financial institution and report the scam
- ask your bank whether they can reverse the payment, freeze the scam account and/or recover the funds
- check your NDIS records for any other unauthorised payments, withdrawals or updates.
Unauthorised NDIS Access
Scammers who have accessed your information illegally may use that information to make false claims against your plan.
Report an NDIS Scam
If a scammer contacts you pretending to an employee of the NDIA or an NDIS provider, you should report it to us by:
Submit our online tip-off form
This will help the Agency in getting the important information they need to follow up properly and quickly you will receive a reference ID once you have submitted the tip-off.
If you need help completing the online tip-off form you can call the NDIS Fraud Reporting and Scams Helpline on 1800 650 717 or email our fraud unit.
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