Fake Facebook Pages Scam Desperate Aussies Using St John's Care Name

• Facebook Scams
• Charity Fraud
• St John's Care

Scammers are impersonating Canberra's St John's Care on Facebook, stealing Centrelink payments from vulnerable Australians. Learn how to protect yourself.

Scammers Use St John's Care Name to Exploit the Vulnerable

St John's Care in Canberra has long been a beacon of hope, providing emergency food relief to anyone in need. But now, the charity is facing a cruel twist: scammers are impersonating the organisation on Facebook to deceive desperate individuals into giving up their Centrelink payments.

Scams Target the Most Vulnerable

According to Executive Officer Jason Haines, over 50 people have reported falling victim to the scam. Fake Facebook pages offer interest-free loans—a service St John's Care does not provide. These pages cleverly mimic the charity’s official account, using stolen photos and posts to appear legitimate.

“If you’re already hungry, or you need to get your kids to school or fix your car, a message saying ‘interest-free loans from St John's Care’ might seem like a lifeline,” Haines said. Instead, victims end up sending login credentials for MyGov accounts, allowing scammers to redirect Centrelink payments to themselves.

Impostor Pages Report the Real Charity

In a shocking turn, scammers have even reported the legitimate St John's Care Facebook page as fake, resulting in its temporary removal by Meta for nearly two months. Despite the charity’s 34-year history and thousands of genuine followers, Meta reportedly took no effective action.

“We were the ones taken down while 15 fake accounts stayed up,” Haines said. “We’ve spent 15 months reporting them, but Meta hasn’t done anything meaningful.”

Scammers Paying for Promotion

Adding insult to injury, Haines revealed that many of the fake pages were running as paid advertisements on Facebook, potentially making money for Meta in the process. “They were boosting posts pretending to be us. So Meta was possibly profiting off the scam,” he said.

Protecting Yourself from Facebook Scams

• St John’s Care will never ask for your MyGov details or personal financial information.
• Only trust information from their official website, phone line, or in-person visits.
• Always check the Facebook page’s history—legitimate organisations will have years of posts, photos, and reviews.
• Be cautious of ads or messages promising loans or financial help in the charity's name.
• If you’ve been targeted, report the incident to Scamwatch and contact your bank immediately.
• Change all passwords for your email, banking, government, and shopping accounts.

What Authorities and Meta Are Doing

St John’s Care has reported the issue to ACT Policing and Centrelink, and continues to urge Meta to take stronger action. Meta stated that “user safety is of utmost importance” and that they are investing in tools to prevent scams, but did not comment directly on the fake accounts or the revenue potentially generated from scam ads.

In the meantime, St John's Care is reminding the public that the safest way to donate is directly via their website, by phone, or in person—never through unsolicited messages on social media.