Werribee acting inspector Amanda Bowden
Victoria Police have noted an increase in scams, particularly those impacting senior members of the community.
Scams may include:
Scam emails and text messages: Look out for emails that don’t use your proper name, contain spelling errors or poor grammar. Never provide your personal details in response to an email, and simply delete any email that appears untrustworthy without opening it. Ensure you have up-to-date anti-virus software on your phone and computer as it will typically alert you to malicious emails containing viruses.
Scam phone calls: Scammers will attempt to obtain personal details about you, including your banking details. If you have not initiated the contact and are not expecting a call, do not engage. If the caller is claiming to be from a legitimate organisation, take their name and call the organisation back on their direct phone number, not any number the caller has given you.
Romance scams: Scammers use dating websites and internet chat rooms to create fake profiles in order to manipulate their victims for financial gain. Once they have reeled their victims in, scammers use various deceptive techniques to squeeze money out of them. It is believed these offences remain very under-reported as victims are often too embarrassed to come forward.
You can protect yourself from becoming a victim of a scam by never providing financial details to a stranger. If you’re unsure if the request is legitimate, talk to a friend or family member before sending money. If you think you may have provided account details to a scammer, contact your bank immediately.
Anyone with information about scams, or to report a scam is asked to contact Police Assistance Line and Online Reporting Service on 131444, Scamwatch to report a scam at www.scamwatch.gov.au, or ReportCyber to report cyber crime at www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/report.
