$5000 scam

By Russell Bennett
A SWITCHED-on elderly couple is warning other Cardinia residents of a dangerous phone swindle that could rob them of more than $5000.
Avonsleigh’s Shirley and Allan Hughes received a phone call recently, claiming to be from the Federal Government.
“The phone rang and it sounded like one of these (call centre) blokes you get,” Mrs Hughes, 82, said.
“He said he was ringing on behalf of the Federal Government and they’d discovered that the banks owed us a lot of money but they hadn’t been paying us.
“So, the government was going to rectify it and give us all $5750.”
Mrs Hughes laughed, saying: “Oh yeah, when’s this going to happen?”
The man asked her for her bank details but at no stage referred to her bank by name.
She said: “Just a minute, I’ll put you on to my husband.”
“Allan dealt with him then.”
Another resident on the Hughes’ quiet hills road said she received the same call.
“She queried it quite a bit and asked who the head of his department was,” Mrs Hughes said. “She said he gave her a couple of names and they were both (TVshow) Neighbours characters.”
While neither the Hugheses nor their neighbour fell for the scam, they wanted to warn local “vulnerable” residents not to fall in the trap.
La Trobe MP Laura Smyth emphatically dismissed any link to the Federal Government.
“This is a disgraceful scam that is targeting some of our most vulnerable members of the community,” she said.
“Anyone who is contacted by someone claiming to be from the government and offering to transfer money in exchange for personal information, such as their bank account details, should contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) immediately.”
Ms Smyth said there were simple steps residents could take to avoid being sucked in by a scam.
“If it looks too good to be true, it probably is,” she said.
“Never send your credit card or bank account details to anyone you don’t trust.
“Do not agree to offers or deals straight away – tell the person that you are not interested or that you want to get some independent advice before making a decision.
“Remember there are no get-rich-quick schemes – the only people who make money are the scammers.”
Residents wanting to report a scam should contact the ACCC on 1300 795 995 or call their local police station.
Ms Smyth’s office also has a book available called the Little Black Book of Scams containing valuable information on rorts and rip-offs. To contact her office, call 9796 1788.