Centrelink customers are being warned of a phone scam.

The scam began in recent weeks and has targeted people in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria.

It involves people are being called by someone pretending to work for Centrelink claiming they are owed a Centrelink payment of up to several thousand dollars.

The caller then instructs the person to send money, usually several hundred dollars via cheque, in order to release the funds.

Centrelink says it would never call anyone and ask for money.

Anyone who suspects they have received a scam phone call is urged to report it to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on 1300 795 995.

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