Edgar* was scrolling through his emails on Saturday afternoon when a message, purportedly from myGov offering him a tax refund, caught his attention.

He didn't know it then but he had received a newly identified hoax doing the rounds, which is designed to swindle hard-working Australians of their money.

"I opened it but am always suspicious of emails due to endless scams landing," he told 9news.com.au.

READ MORE: Australian singer Renée Geyer dies aged 69

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But this time, Edgar immediately spotted some tell-tale red flags.

"At first I thought it may be legit because it appeared to come from a myGov email, but reading the detail it didn't seem worded right," he said.

"Eventually, grammatical errors made it obvious it was a scam.

"Still, not everyone pays close attention.

"It would be easy to click a link and make a big mistake."

His sentiments have been echoed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The consumer watchdog said it has received 1271 reports of the scam in just two weeks from January 1.

Of these, 607 were via email and another 638 were via SMS.

So many reports have come through, the term "myGov" started trending on Twitter today. 

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All of the messages had one major thing in common.

"Most scams offer rebates, or suggest there are security issues with myGov," a spokesperson said.

"The link will take the recipient to a fake myGov log-on page to harvest login details or personal information.

"Some via social media are unrelated third parties requesting myGov log-on details."

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ACCC has urged all Australians to be wary of messages received from the government service.

"Never click on links in texts, and always access myGov via an independent web search," the spokesperson said.

"You should never provide your myGov log-on details to a third party.

"Even if it's someone you know."

* Name changed to protect identity

Roselia Epati was charged with three counts of indecent assault.

About 100 passengers have had their commute disrupted.

Teen robber who apologised to salon worker for armed robbery saved from going to prison.

Man finished Tui beer and threw away car keys as police arrested him following pursuit.

The two men had been missing at sea in their dinghy for six days.

People from Cape Reinga to Auckland reported a fireball/bright flashes in the night sky.

Elliot had already spent four months in custody at the time of the sentencing.

Australian jazz and soul singer Renée Geyer has died aged 69 after complications related to hip surgery.

The singer's record label, the Mushroom Group, confirmed the sad news, adding she was in no pain and died peacefully with family and friends.

"Renée is one of the most highly regarded singers in contemporary music – her unique vocal sound influences countless singers to this day," a statement read.

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The label said it was discovered Geyer also had inoperable lung cancer while she was in hospital.

"We are all utterly devastated," a spokesperson said.

Geyer most recently performed to a sellout crowd last month and the record label said the singer had been looking forward to a busy year ahead.

"Renée was irrepressible, cheeky and loyal and her musical legacy speaks for itself, with her performing and recording career spanning five decades," the statement said.

"(She) lived her life as she performed – on her own terms and to the fullest.

"Beloved and respected, she was a force of nature and a national treasure, and her passing leaves a giant void in the Australian music industry."

The Melbourne-born artist was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2005 and was the first woman to be inducted into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame in 2013.

She has also received the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian Women in Music Awards in 2018.

"We would like to thank the staff at the University Hospital Geelong for their care and consideration," the record label said.

Details of Geyer's memorial are yet to be announced.

Parts of Queensland remain in the middle of a weather emergency, with dozens of residents sleeping in pubs and cars, as flooding continues to pour through the state.

In the last seven days, more than 1000mm of rain has drenched inland Mackay, while 800mm has fallen over Proserpine.

Major roads in the centre and north of the state have been cut off, and half a metre more of rain is expected through the week.

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Motorists remain stranded on Bruce Highway near Proserpine, with dozens sleeping in their cars as the road ahead of them remains flooded,

Some have been stranded for two days.

There's hope flood waters will recede enough for one lane of the highway to reopen in the next few hours.

Police have carried out food drops for the stranded drivers.

Residents have also been taking shelter in free emergency accommodation centres scattered around the state.

More than 100 travellers and locals spent the night at Bowen PCYC, sleeping on the floor and eating donated food.

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Queensland Resident, Melissa Young slept on the concrete outside emergency accommodation at Proserpine Entertainment Centre last night so she didn't have to leave her dogs alone during the crisis.

The local community has donated an air mattress and yoga mat to her this morning, so she can remain with her pets. 

The Regional Harbour Master for Mackay has advised all boats between St Lawrence and Whitsundays to keep clear of all waterways, creeks and estuaries due to flood runoff and debris in the water.

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https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1615155233696452612

Emergency warnings are also in place along the Pioneer River.

Moderate flood warnings are in place for the Don, Suttor, Burdekin, Haughton and Cape Rivers, as they are expected to hit above minor flood levels this afternoon.

Flood warnings have eased for areas along the Herbert, Ross and Bohle Rivers as flood levels lower.

Severe rainfall is predicted to continue in areas between Ayr and Carmila, including Mackay, Proserpine and Bowen. Low-lying streets in the city CBD are also expected to go underwater before the rain eases on Wednesday.

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The flooding is causing supply chain issues for supermarkets as the Bruce Highway remains underwater, blocking delivery routes.

There were bare shelves at the Mackay CBD Coles yesterday with bread, fruit, vegetables and meat all in short supply.

The rain has also been troublesome for local wildlife.

A crocodile was spotted washed up on the Bruce Highway, its believed to have come from the Proserpine River

There have also been multiple rescues of cars from floodwaters.

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Nobody has drowned, but there has been one death recorded after a man died at Nebo in a single-vehicle crash late on Monday night.

He's believed to have lost control of his car in the wet conditions.

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