Australia has bolstered its defences against scammers, revealing a trial program has blocked more than 2,500 harmful text messages impersonating federal government agencies from preying on Australians in the past year. Combatting the malicious messages involved a partnership between the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), relevant government departments, and the telecommunications sector—including the nation’s biggest player, Telstra. Scammers claiming to be from Centrelink, the nation’s financial assistance program, and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) had continued to target Australians at record numbers. “I am very pleased that so many scam texts appearing to come from legitimate government sender IDs, including Centrelink, myGov and the ATO are being blocked,” Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said in a media release. Fletcher said he had written to NBN Co, Australia’s fibre optic broadband operator, along with Australia Post and banks to encourage them to apply the same process. Defence Minister Peter Dutton heralded the …