Are your Medicare details available on the “dark web”?
Government responds to claims that Medicare card numbers are being sold online.
The Minister for Human Services, the Honourable Alan Tudge MP, has referred the allegations that you're able to purchase Medicare card numbers online onto the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
These allegations stem from an investigation conducted the Guardian, where a journalist was able to purchase their Medicare number on the "dark web".
According to the statement from trudge, the journalist was only able to access their Medicare number after first providing their name and date of birth.
"I have received assurance that the information obtained by the journalist was not sufficient to access any personal health record," said Tudge.
While this is some good news for consumers, Tudge said that any unauthorised access to Medicare numbers is concerning.
According to the original Guardian article, Medicare numbers are very valuable to crime syndicates wishing to conduct identity fraud, as it allows them to make fake Medicare cards. In the past these have been used for many purposes such as renting or buying property or cars.
The Medicare cards can also be used to buy drugs or get rebates Medicare treatments.
The darknet vendor is selling the Medicare numbers for 0.0089 bitcoin, which is about AU$30.
Latest health headlines
- 4 health insurance features to look for in 2023 – beyond just price
- Want to avoid health insurance price hikes? Act fast.
- 3.3 million Aussies will switch or ditch their health cover in 2023
- 2 big changes to health insurance rules from 1 July: Will you pay more?
- Hungry for healthcare: 4.3 million Australians say they are underinsured
Picture: Shutterstock
