The Australian Department of Home Affairs has issued a warning after reports of scammers impersonating Home Affairs officers and approaching people at their homes in an attempt to obtain personal information, biometric data and money.
Authorities said the scammers may present fake documents claiming to be from the department and attempt to convince residents that they are conducting official government checks.
The individuals may request:
- Personal information or identity documents
- Biometric information, including fingerprints or photographs
- Money or financial details
The Department of Home Affairs stressed that genuine Home Affairs officers do not visit people’s homes to collect photographs, fingerprints or other biometric information.
“If a community member receives a suspicious visit, call, email, or message claiming to be from the Department of Home Affairs, they should report it to Scamwatch,” the department said in a community alert.
Residents are urged not to provide any information, make payments or allow unknown people claiming to be government officials into their homes.
The department advised community members to:
- Verify any unexpected contact claiming to be from Home Affairs
- Avoid sharing personal or financial details
- Report suspicious approaches to local authorities and Scamwatch
The warning comes amid broader concerns about scams targeting multicultural communities, particularly those involving immigration, visas and government services.
Criminals often exploit people’s concerns about their residency status, citizenship applications or legal obligations by pretending to represent official agencies.
The Department of Home Affairs has encouraged anyone who receives suspicious communication or a visit from someone claiming to be a government officer to report it through the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Scamwatch service at www.scamwatch.gov.au.
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