Services Australia data breaches surge as scammers try to hack customer accounts using stolen details

Exclusive: Breaches linked to social engineering' rise by more than 440% after nine reported last year

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

Services Australia has seen a massive surge in data breaches by scammers harvesting information from previous hacks and using it to access customer accounts, Guardian Australia can reveal.

Data obtained under freedom of information by a user, known as CR, on the transparency website Right to Know reveals that, as of 5 July, Services Australia had reported 49 data breaches as a result of social engineering - where people call an agency pretending to be someone in order to access information - in 2024.

Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email