Claims of a $750 Australia cash relief payment scheduled for this month are unfounded, according to Services Australia. The agency has confirmed there is no official one-off payment planned, warning Australians to beware of scam messages circulating online and through text messages.
Table of Contents
$750 Australia Cash Relief
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Claimed payment amount | $750 one-off “cash relief” |
| Official government response | No payment planned; scam warnings issued |
| Historical payments | $750 Economic Support Payments during COVID-19 in 2020–2021 |
| Reported scam losses 2025 | $12 million lost to government payment scams (July–Sept 2025) |
| Recommended action for the public | Verify announcements only on “.gov.au” websites |
| Official Website | Services Australia |
While the $750 Australia cash relief payment remains a fiction, the economic pressures that fuelled its spread are real. As inflation continues to weigh on households, public demand for relief is unlikely to fade. Any future cash payment program, however, will be clearly announced through official channels — not via unsolicited text messages.
No Official $750 Payment Confirmed by Government
Services Australia, the federal agency responsible for Centrelink payments, has stated there is no government plan to distribute a $750 cash relief payment this month.
“The claim is false. There are no new lump-sum relief payments in October 2025,” a spokesperson for the agency said in a statement.
The clarification comes after widely shared posts on Facebook, TikTok, and SMS chains claimed eligible Australians would receive a one-off payment to help with cost-of-living pressures. Officials say these posts mimic legitimate government announcements to harvest personal data from vulnerable people.
How the False Claims Spread
The false claims first emerged in early October, with identical text messages being mass-distributed across multiple states. Many posts reused language from legitimate government announcements during the COVID-19 pandemic, including “one-off cash support” and “automatic Centrelink deposit.”
According to Scamwatch, operated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), reports of government payment scams rose by 38 per cent in the past three months.
“Scammers deliberately use familiar figures and dates to build credibility,” said Delia Rickard, Deputy Chair of the ACCC. “They often insert real government logos and language into fake messages to deceive Australians.”
Cybersecurity experts note that the recent surge aligns with heightened public anxiety about cost-of-living pressures, making individuals more likely to engage with fraudulent offers.
Economic Pressures Make Scams More Effective
Australia’s inflation rate, currently sitting at 4.2 per cent, remains well above the Reserve Bank of Australia’s target range of 2–3 per cent. Essentials like rent, groceries, and energy have seen sharp price increases over the past 18 months.
For lower-income Australians, this has created real financial strain. In that environment, any promise of direct cash relief — even if false — spreads rapidly.
“Scammers know exactly when to strike,” said Professor Katrina Wallace, cybersecurity researcher at the University of New South Wales. “They target periods of economic stress when the promise of even a modest payment can seem like a lifeline.”
Historical $750 Payments During COVID-19
The confusion partly stems from real past payments. In 2020 and 2021, the federal government issued two $750 Economic Support Payments to more than 6.5 million Australians as part of its COVID-19 stimulus strategy.
Those payments targeted pensioners, social security recipients, veterans, and eligible concession cardholders. The payments were made automatically, without the need for online forms or third-party registration — a key contrast with current scam messages.
“These payments were a legitimate part of our pandemic response,” said Treasury spokesperson Michael Harcourt. “But no similar program exists today.”
No such measure appears in the 2025–26 Federal Budget, which focuses on structural economic support rather than one-off payments.
Why This Rumour Gained Traction
According to digital misinformation researchers at the Australian National University (ANU), false stories about government benefits often spread faster than official corrections.
This is partly because scam content is designed to trigger emotion — using phrases like “urgent payment,” “limited time,” or “you may be eligible.”
“This kind of language is persuasive because it creates both hope and fear,” said Dr. Will Tillett, a misinformation specialist at ANU. “Even a small chance of receiving $750 can be enough for many people to click a link.”
Scam messages have also evolved technically, often appearing to come from legitimate senders such as “myGov” or “Centrelink”. This practice, known as spoofing, makes scams more convincing and harder to detect.
How to Verify Government Payments
Services Australia urges citizens to only trust information from official sources. These include government websites ending in “.gov.au,” verified social media accounts, and official press releases.
Australians are encouraged to:
- Log in to myGov directly, not through links in unsolicited messages.
- Check Scamwatch updates for current scam warnings.
- Report suspicious messages to ReportCyber or the ACCC.
- Enable two-factor authentication to protect personal accounts.
“This kind of misinformation can have serious financial consequences,” the Services Australia spokesperson said. “Never provide your personal or banking information in response to unsolicited offers.”
Real Australians Affected by Scams
Marjorie Ellis, a 72-year-old pensioner from Melbourne, received one of the scam texts last week. It appeared to be from Centrelink and contained a link to “confirm eligibility.”
“It looked real — it even had the green government logo,” she said. “I nearly clicked it, but my daughter told me to check the official website first.”
Ellis reported the message to Scamwatch, but worries many others may not be as cautious.
Older Australians and those receiving income support are disproportionately targeted by fake payment scams, according to the ACCC. They often trust familiar institutions and may not have advanced digital literacy.
Cost-of-Living Measures in Place — But No Lump Sum
While no $750 cash relief payment exists, the federal government has rolled out several targeted cost-of-living measures in 2025. These include:
- Expanded Rent Assistance for eligible households;
- Energy bill rebates for low-income families;
- A temporary freeze on PBS prescription co-payments;
- Indexation of pensions and allowances in line with inflation.
“These are not headline-grabbing one-off cheques,” said Dr. Elise Manning, Senior Economist at the Grattan Institute. “But they aim to provide sustained relief over time, rather than a short-term boost.”
She added that lump-sum payments are less common in non-crisis budgets because they can fuel inflation and have limited long-term economic impact.
Political Reactions and Public Pressure
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said on Tuesday that the government should “do more to ease cost-of-living pain,” but did not endorse one-off payments.
Some crossbench MPs have floated proposals for targeted relief for energy costs, but none have called for a universal $750 cash boost.
The Treasurer Jim Chalmers has consistently stated that fiscal measures will remain “responsible, targeted and affordable.”
“The priority is inflation control and support for those who need it most,” he told reporters in Canberra last week. “One-off cash splashes are not part of the current economic strategy.”
Scam Warning Systems Under Review
In response to the latest scam wave, the government is considering expanding its national SMS Sender ID Registry. This system aims to block fake messages claiming to be from legitimate agencies such as myGov or the ATO.
The ACSC and major telcos have already blocked more than 300,000 scam messages in the first half of October.
“This is an evolving threat,” said Abigail Renshaw, ACSC spokesperson. “Our goal is to close the gaps scammers exploit.”
Australians can also register their phone numbers with Do Not Call lists and use phone security apps to reduce exposure to fraudulent messages.
A Broader Global Pattern
Australia is not alone. Similar fake payment scams have appeared in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, often tied to cost-of-living crises or election cycles.
In Canada, for example, scammers circulated fake $500 “Grocery Rebates” in March 2025. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre also issued a warning in September after a surge in “Cost of Living Payment” scams.
“Economic stress provides fertile ground for fraud,” said Dr. Rina Patel, an analyst at the International Centre for Cybercrime Studies. “These scams are becoming more coordinated and global.”
What Happens Next
The Australian government has not ruled out future cost-of-living support, but there is no indication of an imminent lump-sum cash payment. Officials continue to monitor scam activity closely and coordinate with major tech platforms to curb disinformation.
Australians are urged to remain cautious and informed, particularly as scammers adopt more sophisticated techniques.
$750 Australia Cash Relief in October 2025; Check Payout Date, Eligibility Criteria
FAQ About $750 Australia Cash Relief
Q: Is there a $750 cash relief payment in October 2025?
A: No. Services Australia has confirmed the claim is false.
Q: Where did the rumour come from?
A: Unverified social media posts and scam messages impersonating government announcements.
Q: Were there ever $750 payments in the past?
A: Yes, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 as part of Economic Support Payments.
Q: What cost-of-living support is actually available now?
A: Energy rebates, rent assistance, and indexed pensions, among other targeted measures.
