Fraud Fortnight: Police warning on scams
The NSW Police Force’s Fraud Squad has issued a warning to people about scammers purporting to be from legitimate businesses and seeking personal information.
NSW Fraud Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Col Dyson, said so-called deception scams can be very difficult to spot and urged people to be wary.
“Deception scams involve criminals pretending to be from legitimate companies and requesting information that will allow them to profit from their fraud,” he said.
“They are very good at making you think they have something to lose and it is easy to panic when you are unexpectedly contacted by someone who sounds official, particularly if they say money is at risk.
“We would urge people to check the story through a search on the web, or call the organisation back through a known number. Never use contact details for the organisation which have been given to you by the person requesting the information.
“Scams generally succeed because they look like the real thing, and they can have a devastating financial and emotional impact on people.
“Many scammers will approach you out-of-the-blue pretending to be legitimate banks or businesses. Genuine organisations don’t usually contact you to ask for passwords or account numbers. If this happens, don’t respond.”
The warning about ‘deception scams’ has been issued as part of the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce’s two-week awareness campaign, ‘Fraud Fortnight’.
The campaign runs until Saturday 8 March and aims to raise awareness about deceptive and seductive scams.
The overall theme for the two weeks of the campaign is ‘SCAMS TARGET YOU – Protect Yourself’’. To find out more about scams and to report scams visit www.scamwatch.gov.au or call SCAMwatch on 1300 795 995.
Any members of the public who have been the subject of scams are urged to fill out a survey on the Australian Institute of Criminology website at www.aic.gov.au/research/fraud/acft/survey.html
Gathering this information will help agencies to improve the prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution of scam offenders.
‘Fraud Fortnight’ is an initiative of the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce. Established in March 2005, the Taskforce comprises 19 Federal and State government regulatory agencies and departments (including New Zealand) that have a responsibility for consumer protection in relation to frauds and scams.
Locally, police have received complaints in relation to a mail scam that is circulating the Northern Rivers area sent from Madrid. The scam invites the receiver to contact scammers in relation to a death in Europe of a person who died without a will leaving behind a large sum of money.
The senders invite receivers to share the spoils equally by sending their details to legitimise the contact.
Police advise anyone receiving such a letter to ignore it.
