SENIOR SCAM ALERTS
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HELPING US DELIVER SENIOR SCAM PRESENTATIONS
ACE AUDIOLOGY www.aceaudiology.com.au ACE AUDIOLOGY Melbourne has been 'friends of Respite Now' since our business started and like Respite Now, service most of Melbourne, is Australian owned and is managed with firm, family values. ACE Audiology and Hearing, believe their profession exists to help those in need. They believe you should have choice. They believe you should have trust in the advice they provide and believe that everyone deserves the right to hear to the best of their ability no matter what their affluence. ACCC www.accc.gov.au/ The ACCC promotes competition and fair trade in markets to benefit consumers, businesses, and the community. We also regulate national infrastructure services. They provide us with prompt delivery of the 'Little Black Book of Scams' which are given out at each presentation. Our primary responsibility is to ensure that individuals and businesses comply with Australian competition, fair trading, and consumer protection laws - in particular the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. |
NEW SCAMS PREYING ON MELBOURNE SENIORS
Friday 28th December, 2018
Although the percentage of scams that ended with financial losses in November '18 were lower than October '18, $8 million dollars is absolutely scary. Especially when we know that many scams are now being targeted at vulnerable people; especially the aged, people living alone and people living with a disability. Please be sure to be on the look out for scammers. Respite Now care staff often hear reports from our clients where an attempt was made to either steal money or personal information. Be on the look out for unexpected phone calls, door knockers or emails and texts. Let someone else know if you are tempted to take any steps to engage with an offer that may be almost too good to be true; they usually are exactly that. Below is a comparison between November and October 2018.
NOVEMBER '18 REPORTED SCAM STATISTICS (as provided by Scam Watch)
Amount lost: $7,800,885
Number of reports: 24,147
Reports with financial losses: 6.9%
Gender; Female = 51.6% Male = 46.9% Other = 1.6%
OCTOBER '18 REPORTED SCAM STATISTICS (as provided by Scam Watch)
Amount lost: $4,966,245
Number of reports: 15,194
Reports with financial losses: 9.8%
Gender: Female = 51.7% Male = 46.6% Other = 1.7%
Monday 6th November, 2018
Don’t be taken for a ride this Melbourne Cup
FROM SCAM WATCH by the ACCC
Fraudsters & scammers are out in force in Melbourne - targeting Melbourne Seniors and other vulnerable people
Punters are being warned to watch out for betting and sports investment scams which falsely promise high odds and big returns on Cup Day, Minister for Small Business Michael McCormack says.
Mr McCormack said already this year Scamwatch has received 184 reports of betting and sports investment scams, with nearly $1.6 million lost and men overwhelmingly likely to be affected by these scams, making three out of every four reports to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
“Unfortunately, sports investment scams are very successful with half of the reports to Scamwatch from people who have already lost money,” Mr McCormack said.
“The average loss is very high at more than $18,000 compared to about $6,500 for all scams. These scams are sophisticated and convincing which is why it is vital people should know the warning signs.”
The three main types of sports betting and investment scams are:
“Scammers use fancy brochures and technical terms to try to convince you their ‘opportunity’ is legitimate. If you are contacted by someone trying to sell you ‘investment opportunity’ or ‘prediction software’, hang up the phone, delete the email or toss the glossy brochure in the bin.”
Friday 28th April 2018
This could be the year of Ransom
Ransomware locks down victims’ PCs until they pay the ransom and is costing Australians millions of dollars every year.
In case you’re a newcomer, let’s recap.
First, you download a piece of malware or your computer gets hacked, and the next time you switch it on, there’s a pop-up or even your whole screen is occupied with a message saying your PC has been locked. You can’t access anything else.
It’s easier to fall victim to Ransomware than you might think. For instance, in one of their latest tricks, crooks send out a spam message saying, “Your package has been delivered.” If you click on the accompanying attachment, you’re done for.
Often, the ransomware message is accompanied by a totally phony statement claiming you’ve been accessing illegal websites, and there may be official-looking logos for organizations such as the Australian Federal Police (AFP), FBI or other government departments.
Sometimes, the malware actually plants pornographic images on victims’ computers as supposed proof of the crime.
Under the guise of this “official” action, the message imposes a “fine” that you have to pay to unlock your device and make your system and data accessible again.
Because it’s really just a bunch of crooks behind the message, you have to pay your “fine” by wiring the money to an untraceable destination, or using the Internet currency known as Bitcoin, or possibly through the purchase of prepaid debit cards for which you’re required to hand over the cards’ code numbers to the crooks.
All of that is bad enough, of course, but even if you pay up, there’s no guarantee the scammers will unlock your machine. You may never see your data again unless you had it backed up.
The Ransoms are usually in the vicintiy of $500.
So back up regularly, maintain your virus protection and be on the look out for suspicious emails. Be very wary when receiving emails from sources you are not familiar with
LET US KNOW IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW HAS BEEN HELD RANSOM BY COMPLETING THE CONTACT FORM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE. STAY SAFE
FEBRUARY 2017
Sorry that we have not posted this month. We have been busy moving our offices to Camberwell. We will get back to posting and keeping you safe from scammers in early August. Stay tuned and Stay Safe
Monday December 2016
Watch out for scam surveys and fake gift card offers over Christmas (this one is straight from ScamWatch)
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is warning the public to be alert to scams offering fake gift cards or vouchers in return for disclosing credit card and other personal information.
“This year, the ACCC’s Scamwatch has received 1,175 complaints about fake surveys, emails and social media posts misusing the names and logos of big retailers such as JB Hi-fi, Bunnings, Coles and Woolworths, with $2,600 in total reported lost. These losses are the tip of the iceberg as the scammer’s target is your personal information to help them scam you again in the future,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.
“Scammers use fake gift card promotions to trick consumers into handing over their personal information such as banking details or passwords, which are later used to steal your money or your identity, or to on-sell to other scammers.”
“Protect your personal information by verifying whether an offer is legitimate by checking if it is listed on the retailers’ official website or by calling the retailers’ official customer service line.”
How these scams work
September 2016
"We are sorry!" TeslaCrypt ransomware authors release decryption key
By Jonathan Keane. DIGITAL TRENDS May 19, 2016
The developers of the notorious TeslaCrypt ransomware have called it a day and released a master decryption key for all of their victims to retrieve their encrypted files.
Security researchers at ESET had been tracking the number of infections at the hands of TeslaCrypt, which is a piece of ransomware that encrypts the users’ files and holds them up for a bitcoin ransom. But the researchers noticed a considerable dip in TeslaCrypt cases, with other forms of ransomware becoming more prevalent like CryptXXX. Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/teslacrypt-ransomware-authors-release-decryption-key/#ixzz49IRUyK4O
June 2016
Respite Now have been busy in March booking and presenting Senior Scam Alert presentations. We've had a lot of interest from the AVEO group and did our first presentation for their AVEO Roseville independent living community in Doncaster last week. Other bookings are with Uniting Church Fellowship groups in Glen Iris and a number of allied health groups have made bookings recently.
There have been no new scam types detected, however some of the usual culprits such as the ATO scam and the Lottery winnings scam are still being reported across Victoria and interstate.
If you would like us to report these on your behalf, please feel free to contact us at any time.
Stay safe.
MONDAY 22nd February, 2016
SCAMMED YOU ONCE, CROOKS BET ON SCAMMING YOU AGAIN
Susan Tompor USA Today 8:32 a.m. EST February 21, 2016
Scam someone once and they feel plenty of shame, maybe so much that they hand over more money to the next round of con artists promising to help them get their money back.
Of course, you have to pay an upfront fee. And of course, it's another scam. And the victims are usually the elderly, already suffering from a financial loss.
It's bad enough losing thousands to a fake time-share investment or some crooked business "opportunity" to be your own boss.
But scammers are now running something called "asset recovery" cons that target consumers. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau noticed a pattern in its complaint data of scam victims getting scammed again. It discovered a company charging fraud victims anywhere from $500 to as much as $8,000 for this "service," which usually involved filing a complaint they could file themselves for free. These victims already had lost from $1,000 to $30,000 and ranged in age from 62 to 82, the bureau reported.
It's hard to know if the same scammer hit on people the first time and then again as part of some "asset recovery" scam. Some consumers suspected maybe that was the case.
SUNDAY 17th January, 2016
NOT TOO MANY SCAM COMPLAINTS OVER CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR
We have been busy providing home and personal care to a number of our senior aged care clients in Melbourne over the Christmas and New year period and are happy to say that whilst we have received a couple of worrying scam alert calls, we have been surprised at the low level of scam complaints we have received over the festive period. Maybe even scammers take holidays? We get to know our clients and often other members of their families very well. The provision of personal care; whether that be the breadth of home care services we provide or seniors transport, companion care or even domestic duties means we ask a lot of questions to ensure we can provide what we think is the best senior and disability care in Melbourne.
The one trend we have noticed (and this is supported by the Government's ScamWatch web site) is what we are calling the 'Centrelink Scam' It starts with a telephone call being received from unsuspecting people by callers claiming to be from Centrelink. The caller you advises there is a special payment due to you but you must first pay a fee or provide banking details; either way DO NOT ACT.
There have been instances of threats being made to stop peoples Centrelink payments (which could be pensions, allowances or support payments) As we've said before, no bonafide company, especially a government department like Centrelink would ask anyone to pay for a service before receiving anything in return.
DO NOT SEND MONEY & DO NOT PROVIDE ANYONE WITH YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS
These criminals are not only after your money but also your personal information which can end up as identity theft or money being stolen from your bank account.
Respite Now's mission to STOP scams; especially those aimed at Melbourne's seniors started when two of our clients told us of the heartache and financial difficulty they incurred after being targeted and duped into a scam which ended with them losing a couple of thousand dollars - one client lost a lot more than that.
We had been providing personal care to these clients and when we heard what had occurred, we felt sick and we promised that we would try and do something to try and ensure others weren't caught out. It's almost impossible to get money back or locate the perpetrators if you send it via money transfer and although some Australian banks are in a position to refund some moneys that have been fraudulently taken from bank accounts, if you send money to someone, that is a different story.
BELOW ARE SOME OF THE STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU HAVE BEEN SCAMMED:
MONDAY 22nd December, 2015
THE ACCC’s ‘LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF SCAMS' AVAILABLE FROM RESPITE NOW
"Scammers have become very sophisticated in their attempts to get your money or personal details. They look like the real thing and catch you off guard when you’re not expecting it," ACCC Acting Chair Delia Rickard said.
The ACCC have recently provided Respite Now with their new ‘Little Black Book of Scams’. This book is a valuable resource to read and share with friends and family and leave around the home as a reminder of some of the techniques scammers are using to steal money and your personal information. It can also be seen by other seniors and children alike as we get together at Christmas. “If it saves one person, it has done its job” says Jane Millard, Home Care Director at Respite Now.
Call 1300 791 562 OR phone 24/7 DIRECT 0403 577 827 and we'll send you the ACCC's Little Black Book of Scams (we have the little pocket version and an electronic version we can email). You could also email us at
info@respitenow.com.au
Friday 28th December, 2018
Although the percentage of scams that ended with financial losses in November '18 were lower than October '18, $8 million dollars is absolutely scary. Especially when we know that many scams are now being targeted at vulnerable people; especially the aged, people living alone and people living with a disability. Please be sure to be on the look out for scammers. Respite Now care staff often hear reports from our clients where an attempt was made to either steal money or personal information. Be on the look out for unexpected phone calls, door knockers or emails and texts. Let someone else know if you are tempted to take any steps to engage with an offer that may be almost too good to be true; they usually are exactly that. Below is a comparison between November and October 2018.
NOVEMBER '18 REPORTED SCAM STATISTICS (as provided by Scam Watch)
Amount lost: $7,800,885
Number of reports: 24,147
Reports with financial losses: 6.9%
Gender; Female = 51.6% Male = 46.9% Other = 1.6%
OCTOBER '18 REPORTED SCAM STATISTICS (as provided by Scam Watch)
Amount lost: $4,966,245
Number of reports: 15,194
Reports with financial losses: 9.8%
Gender: Female = 51.7% Male = 46.6% Other = 1.7%
Monday 6th November, 2018
Don’t be taken for a ride this Melbourne Cup
FROM SCAM WATCH by the ACCC
Fraudsters & scammers are out in force in Melbourne - targeting Melbourne Seniors and other vulnerable people
Punters are being warned to watch out for betting and sports investment scams which falsely promise high odds and big returns on Cup Day, Minister for Small Business Michael McCormack says.
Mr McCormack said already this year Scamwatch has received 184 reports of betting and sports investment scams, with nearly $1.6 million lost and men overwhelmingly likely to be affected by these scams, making three out of every four reports to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
“Unfortunately, sports investment scams are very successful with half of the reports to Scamwatch from people who have already lost money,” Mr McCormack said.
“The average loss is very high at more than $18,000 compared to about $6,500 for all scams. These scams are sophisticated and convincing which is why it is vital people should know the warning signs.”
The three main types of sports betting and investment scams are:
- Computer prediction software – scammers will try to sell people software that promises to accurately predict sporting results, for example the Melbourne Cup winner.
- Betting syndicates – scammers will try to convince potential victims to join a betting syndicate. People are required to pay a hefty fee (often in excess of $15,000) to join and make regular deposits. The scammers say the funds are being used to place bets on behalf of the syndicate but in reality the scammer is pocketing all the funds.
- Sports investment – these scams are usually promoted as business opportunities or investments. The scammer will use technical or financial terms such as “sports arbitrage” or “sports trading” to make these scams look legitimate. They are nothing more than a con to get people to put money into an investment that does not exist.
“Scammers use fancy brochures and technical terms to try to convince you their ‘opportunity’ is legitimate. If you are contacted by someone trying to sell you ‘investment opportunity’ or ‘prediction software’, hang up the phone, delete the email or toss the glossy brochure in the bin.”
Friday 28th April 2018
This could be the year of Ransom
Ransomware locks down victims’ PCs until they pay the ransom and is costing Australians millions of dollars every year.
In case you’re a newcomer, let’s recap.
First, you download a piece of malware or your computer gets hacked, and the next time you switch it on, there’s a pop-up or even your whole screen is occupied with a message saying your PC has been locked. You can’t access anything else.
It’s easier to fall victim to Ransomware than you might think. For instance, in one of their latest tricks, crooks send out a spam message saying, “Your package has been delivered.” If you click on the accompanying attachment, you’re done for.
Often, the ransomware message is accompanied by a totally phony statement claiming you’ve been accessing illegal websites, and there may be official-looking logos for organizations such as the Australian Federal Police (AFP), FBI or other government departments.
Sometimes, the malware actually plants pornographic images on victims’ computers as supposed proof of the crime.
Under the guise of this “official” action, the message imposes a “fine” that you have to pay to unlock your device and make your system and data accessible again.
Because it’s really just a bunch of crooks behind the message, you have to pay your “fine” by wiring the money to an untraceable destination, or using the Internet currency known as Bitcoin, or possibly through the purchase of prepaid debit cards for which you’re required to hand over the cards’ code numbers to the crooks.
All of that is bad enough, of course, but even if you pay up, there’s no guarantee the scammers will unlock your machine. You may never see your data again unless you had it backed up.
The Ransoms are usually in the vicintiy of $500.
So back up regularly, maintain your virus protection and be on the look out for suspicious emails. Be very wary when receiving emails from sources you are not familiar with
LET US KNOW IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW HAS BEEN HELD RANSOM BY COMPLETING THE CONTACT FORM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE. STAY SAFE
FEBRUARY 2017
Sorry that we have not posted this month. We have been busy moving our offices to Camberwell. We will get back to posting and keeping you safe from scammers in early August. Stay tuned and Stay Safe
Monday December 2016
Watch out for scam surveys and fake gift card offers over Christmas (this one is straight from ScamWatch)
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is warning the public to be alert to scams offering fake gift cards or vouchers in return for disclosing credit card and other personal information.
“This year, the ACCC’s Scamwatch has received 1,175 complaints about fake surveys, emails and social media posts misusing the names and logos of big retailers such as JB Hi-fi, Bunnings, Coles and Woolworths, with $2,600 in total reported lost. These losses are the tip of the iceberg as the scammer’s target is your personal information to help them scam you again in the future,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.
“Scammers use fake gift card promotions to trick consumers into handing over their personal information such as banking details or passwords, which are later used to steal your money or your identity, or to on-sell to other scammers.”
“Protect your personal information by verifying whether an offer is legitimate by checking if it is listed on the retailers’ official website or by calling the retailers’ official customer service line.”
How these scams work
- You receive an email or text message out of the blue, or come across a social media post, claiming that you have been selected to receive or have the chance to win a gift card from a well-known company.
- The email, message or post appears legitimate, using brand names and official logos to convince you it’s the real deal.
- As with many legitimate offers and online posts, you might be asked to complete a survey or pass on an offer to others before you can claim the gift card or voucher.
- Upon completing the survey, forwarding or accepting the offer you will generally be directed to a well-constructed webpage. Here, you will be prompted to provide personal information such as your phone number, address and bank account details.
- After handing over your personal information, you may receive a fake gift voucher or alternatively, receive nothing at all. You may also begin to receive unsolicited emails and phone calls requesting more information that the scammer may use to commit identity theft and other fraud.
September 2016
"We are sorry!" TeslaCrypt ransomware authors release decryption key
By Jonathan Keane. DIGITAL TRENDS May 19, 2016
The developers of the notorious TeslaCrypt ransomware have called it a day and released a master decryption key for all of their victims to retrieve their encrypted files.
Security researchers at ESET had been tracking the number of infections at the hands of TeslaCrypt, which is a piece of ransomware that encrypts the users’ files and holds them up for a bitcoin ransom. But the researchers noticed a considerable dip in TeslaCrypt cases, with other forms of ransomware becoming more prevalent like CryptXXX. Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/teslacrypt-ransomware-authors-release-decryption-key/#ixzz49IRUyK4O
June 2016
Respite Now have been busy in March booking and presenting Senior Scam Alert presentations. We've had a lot of interest from the AVEO group and did our first presentation for their AVEO Roseville independent living community in Doncaster last week. Other bookings are with Uniting Church Fellowship groups in Glen Iris and a number of allied health groups have made bookings recently.
There have been no new scam types detected, however some of the usual culprits such as the ATO scam and the Lottery winnings scam are still being reported across Victoria and interstate.
If you would like us to report these on your behalf, please feel free to contact us at any time.
Stay safe.
MONDAY 22nd February, 2016
SCAMMED YOU ONCE, CROOKS BET ON SCAMMING YOU AGAIN
Susan Tompor USA Today 8:32 a.m. EST February 21, 2016
Scam someone once and they feel plenty of shame, maybe so much that they hand over more money to the next round of con artists promising to help them get their money back.
Of course, you have to pay an upfront fee. And of course, it's another scam. And the victims are usually the elderly, already suffering from a financial loss.
It's bad enough losing thousands to a fake time-share investment or some crooked business "opportunity" to be your own boss.
But scammers are now running something called "asset recovery" cons that target consumers. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau noticed a pattern in its complaint data of scam victims getting scammed again. It discovered a company charging fraud victims anywhere from $500 to as much as $8,000 for this "service," which usually involved filing a complaint they could file themselves for free. These victims already had lost from $1,000 to $30,000 and ranged in age from 62 to 82, the bureau reported.
It's hard to know if the same scammer hit on people the first time and then again as part of some "asset recovery" scam. Some consumers suspected maybe that was the case.
SUNDAY 17th January, 2016
NOT TOO MANY SCAM COMPLAINTS OVER CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR
We have been busy providing home and personal care to a number of our senior aged care clients in Melbourne over the Christmas and New year period and are happy to say that whilst we have received a couple of worrying scam alert calls, we have been surprised at the low level of scam complaints we have received over the festive period. Maybe even scammers take holidays? We get to know our clients and often other members of their families very well. The provision of personal care; whether that be the breadth of home care services we provide or seniors transport, companion care or even domestic duties means we ask a lot of questions to ensure we can provide what we think is the best senior and disability care in Melbourne.
The one trend we have noticed (and this is supported by the Government's ScamWatch web site) is what we are calling the 'Centrelink Scam' It starts with a telephone call being received from unsuspecting people by callers claiming to be from Centrelink. The caller you advises there is a special payment due to you but you must first pay a fee or provide banking details; either way DO NOT ACT.
There have been instances of threats being made to stop peoples Centrelink payments (which could be pensions, allowances or support payments) As we've said before, no bonafide company, especially a government department like Centrelink would ask anyone to pay for a service before receiving anything in return.
DO NOT SEND MONEY & DO NOT PROVIDE ANYONE WITH YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS
These criminals are not only after your money but also your personal information which can end up as identity theft or money being stolen from your bank account.
Respite Now's mission to STOP scams; especially those aimed at Melbourne's seniors started when two of our clients told us of the heartache and financial difficulty they incurred after being targeted and duped into a scam which ended with them losing a couple of thousand dollars - one client lost a lot more than that.
We had been providing personal care to these clients and when we heard what had occurred, we felt sick and we promised that we would try and do something to try and ensure others weren't caught out. It's almost impossible to get money back or locate the perpetrators if you send it via money transfer and although some Australian banks are in a position to refund some moneys that have been fraudulently taken from bank accounts, if you send money to someone, that is a different story.
BELOW ARE SOME OF THE STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU HAVE BEEN SCAMMED:
- Contact your bank or credit union - If you've sent money or personal banking information to a scammer, contact your bank or credit union immediately. They may be able to stop a money transfer or cheque, or close your account if the scammer has your account details. Your credit card provider may be able to perform a 'charge back' (reverse the transaction) if your credit card was billed fraudulently.
- Report Scams to appropriate authorities - Fraud and theft. Call Your Local Police Call 131 444
- Alert Others - If the scammer first made contact through a website, social media, by email or phone, contact the relevant company with the scammer’s details. Your report will help them take action to disrupt scams.
- Contact your local consumer protection agency Consumer Affairs Victoria
- Contact Counselling Groups - If you or someone you know has been scammed, please talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.
- Avoid follow up scams - Scammers will often try to take advantage when you’re feeling vulnerable and try to extract more money from you through a follow up scam. For example, a scammer may say they are from a law enforcement agency and will investigate your case for a fee. Or they may contact you with a completely different scam. Be alert to follow up scams at all times.
MONDAY 22nd December, 2015
THE ACCC’s ‘LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF SCAMS' AVAILABLE FROM RESPITE NOW
"Scammers have become very sophisticated in their attempts to get your money or personal details. They look like the real thing and catch you off guard when you’re not expecting it," ACCC Acting Chair Delia Rickard said.
The ACCC have recently provided Respite Now with their new ‘Little Black Book of Scams’. This book is a valuable resource to read and share with friends and family and leave around the home as a reminder of some of the techniques scammers are using to steal money and your personal information. It can also be seen by other seniors and children alike as we get together at Christmas. “If it saves one person, it has done its job” says Jane Millard, Home Care Director at Respite Now.
Call 1300 791 562 OR phone 24/7 DIRECT 0403 577 827 and we'll send you the ACCC's Little Black Book of Scams (we have the little pocket version and an electronic version we can email). You could also email us at
info@respitenow.com.au
- Female 51.7%
- Male 46.6%
- Gender X 1.7%
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LEFT: THE ACCC's LITTLE BLACK BOOK of SCAMS
Respite Now have taken delivery of a new batch of the ACCC's LIttle Black Book of Scams. The booklet covers the 10 most popular scams being used by fraudsters to steal money and personal information form you and/or your loved ones. The Christmas period is a popular time as the scammers know we are all full of festive hope, optimism and good will; values the scammers do not share; instead they use this to steal and defraud people of money, bank account details and other personal information that can be later used to line their pockets and deplete yours. This is particularly relevant to Melbourne seniors and their families. The targeting of seniors who are living alone is on the increase. For business owners, the book also covers some of the tactics scammers are using to steal from you as well. The booklet provides the top 10 Golden-Rules to protect yourself and your family and provides information about reporting any scam activity you come across. Respite Now take a lot of phone calls and receive emails from many Melbourne seniors and their care givers asking advice on not only how to care for ageing parents in their home but also about their personal safety and well being when they are out and about. Scammers are busy and congregate where we congregate. Arm yourself with this little resource as it may be the thing that saves you from the pain and suffering those that do get scammed have to deal with. If you need any sort of home help or aged care services in Melbourne, for yourself or loved one or would like to report a scam, please feel free to contact us anytime on 1300791 562 or call 24/7 DIRECT on 0403 577 827 or email to info@respitenow.com.au |
THURSDAY 3rd December, 2015 (Happy Christmas and have and please stay safe)
THE VICTORIAN POLICE GIVE A SHORT TALK ON SENIOR PERSONAL SAFETY AT OUR SCAM ALERT PRESENTATIONS
For this, our last Senior Scam Alert post for the year we'd like to share some photos from one of the presentation we gave in Carlton. The Victorian Police members who participated in the series of 5 Senior Scam Alert presentations provided the attendees and the staff and PAG (Planned Activity Groups) coordinators valuable information about how to keep safe in Melbourne. The talks have become a valuable vehicle for sharing stories about others who have been scammed in Melbourne and examples of scams that are occurring overseas; often finding their way to Melbourne. Some of the daughters of senior parents who where in attendance found the information extremely valuable and learnt how to identify new scams. how to avoid scams and what to do if you or someone you know is scammed.
I'd like to thank & acknowledge the wonderful support provided by the Victorian Police who like us, give their time to these presentations and share information that can help keep us all safe - whether walking the streets, when we are shopping or even when driving around our beloved Melbourne streets.
Also thanks to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission who provide us with their Little Black Book of Scams which we encourage seniors to leave lying around their living area for friends and family to see and read when they visit and also as a reminder the next time you receive that suspect phone call, knock on the door, email, text etc (the list is endless)
ACE Audiology help us bring the presentation to seniors groups in Melbourne and we suggest you talk to them the next time you have any hearing aid or hearing concerns.
THE VICTORIAN POLICE GIVE A SHORT TALK ON SENIOR PERSONAL SAFETY AT OUR SCAM ALERT PRESENTATIONS
For this, our last Senior Scam Alert post for the year we'd like to share some photos from one of the presentation we gave in Carlton. The Victorian Police members who participated in the series of 5 Senior Scam Alert presentations provided the attendees and the staff and PAG (Planned Activity Groups) coordinators valuable information about how to keep safe in Melbourne. The talks have become a valuable vehicle for sharing stories about others who have been scammed in Melbourne and examples of scams that are occurring overseas; often finding their way to Melbourne. Some of the daughters of senior parents who where in attendance found the information extremely valuable and learnt how to identify new scams. how to avoid scams and what to do if you or someone you know is scammed.
I'd like to thank & acknowledge the wonderful support provided by the Victorian Police who like us, give their time to these presentations and share information that can help keep us all safe - whether walking the streets, when we are shopping or even when driving around our beloved Melbourne streets.
Also thanks to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission who provide us with their Little Black Book of Scams which we encourage seniors to leave lying around their living area for friends and family to see and read when they visit and also as a reminder the next time you receive that suspect phone call, knock on the door, email, text etc (the list is endless)
ACE Audiology help us bring the presentation to seniors groups in Melbourne and we suggest you talk to them the next time you have any hearing aid or hearing concerns.
HANDBAGS ARE EASY TARGETS FOR CRIMINALS
At the Senior Scam Alert presentations held at COASIT Carlton over a 5 days in September & October this year, one of the group members told us that she had a handbag stolen from underneath her legs whilst out having coffee with her daughter. When we go out into the community educating and sharing stories about how to stay safe from scammers, we often hear about new techniques these criminals are using. A bag-snatch is not classified as a scam, however we though it is important that we share new tricks that are being used to steal money and personal identities from seniors in our community. The Victorian Police assist at these presentations as they provide a 20 minute talk on personal safety prior to the main presentation on staying out of the scammers hands. Senior Constables Dinesh Netur and Andrew Kennedy showed the attendees how to reduce the chance of having a handbag stolen whist out at a food court or similar having a coffee with a friend or family.
The best way is to loop the handbag strap underneath the chair leg and/or keep the handbag on your lap. It's a shame we have to go to these lengths.
At the Senior Scam Alert presentations held at COASIT Carlton over a 5 days in September & October this year, one of the group members told us that she had a handbag stolen from underneath her legs whilst out having coffee with her daughter. When we go out into the community educating and sharing stories about how to stay safe from scammers, we often hear about new techniques these criminals are using. A bag-snatch is not classified as a scam, however we though it is important that we share new tricks that are being used to steal money and personal identities from seniors in our community. The Victorian Police assist at these presentations as they provide a 20 minute talk on personal safety prior to the main presentation on staying out of the scammers hands. Senior Constables Dinesh Netur and Andrew Kennedy showed the attendees how to reduce the chance of having a handbag stolen whist out at a food court or similar having a coffee with a friend or family.
The best way is to loop the handbag strap underneath the chair leg and/or keep the handbag on your lap. It's a shame we have to go to these lengths.
WEDNESDAY 11th November, 2015
BEWARE OF SCAMMERS POSING AS CENTRELINK OFFICERS (from ACCC Radar alert)
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is warning of scammers imitating Centrelink officers trying to trick people into handing over money or personal details. “The ACCC has received a spike in contacts about fake rebate scams in which the scammer claims to be from Centrelink or the Department of Human Services. One hundred people contacted the ACCC about this scam last month, compared with 20 reports in May. Four people have reported losing over $3,000 to this scam in the past six months, with 300 contacts in that time,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.
How these scams work You receive a call from someone claiming to be from the Department of Human Resources or Centrelink. The caller tells you that you are entitled to more money but you must provide some personal details to prove your identity. At this point the scammer attempts to gather as much as they can about you for identity theft. If you provide these details the scammer will then ask you to send money directly via a wire transfer service and or may even direct you to your nearest Post Office to pay the ‘fee’. The scammer may claim that your Centrelink payments will be cut off unless you pay the fee. If you send any money via wire transfer, you will never see it again – it’s nearly impossible to recover money sent this way. You will also never receive the promised rebate or refund. If you refuse to do this, the scammer might use any bank details you provided to access your bank account directly and attempt to steal your money. These details may also be used in the future for identity theft.
Protect yourself “If you receive a phone call out of the blue from someone claiming to be from a government department and they claim that you are entitled to money, hang up,” Ms Rickard said. “If you have any doubts about the identity of any caller who claims to represent a business, organisation or government department, contact the body directly. Don’t rely on numbers, email addresses or websites provided by the caller – find them through an independent source such as a phone book or online search.” “Never give your personal, credit card or online account details over the phone unless you made the call and the phone number came from a trusted source. If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately,” Ms Rickard said. You can report scams by contacting Respite Now on phone, 1300 791 562, emailing info@respitenow.com.au, using our 'contact form' on our Contact Us page or ACCC via the Scamwatch report a scam page or by calling 1300 795 995.
Stay safe; for urgent matters call 24/7 Direct 0403 577 827
WEDNESDAY 13th August 2015
SPYWARE - FREE WINDOWS 10 UPGRADE EMAILS
There are reports coming in that scam emails are being received offering a FREE WINDOWS 10 upgrade. We have just done the free Windows 10 upgrade ourselves (free to all existing Windows 8 & 9 users) The emails being sent have a link which if clicked will install Malware or Spyware on your computer, lock it and a ransom will be charged by the scammers to unlock your computer.
Windows 10 free upgrades will be promoted by WIndows by a pop-up screen appearing on your computer screen. DO NOT click on links sent to you via email offering FREE Windows 10 upgrade.
SUNDAY 26th July 2015
Fifty-Plus Senior's Scam Alert by Respite Now presents tax scams
http://www.fiftyplusnews.com/home/.maitos/fiftyplus/fiftyplusnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Fifty-Plus-News-July-15-all.pdf
See page 9 of July's Fifty-Plus News for an expose on a current tax scam.
We have had quite a lot of calls this week advising that people are receiving calls from women with a strong Asian accent advising that approximately $6,000.00 is owing to them and they are to ring a phone number with a Sydney (02) prefix. The address of the company has been given as Angel Place, Sydney. The caller often knows the name of the person they are calling but will probe to try and get your date of birth. Please ensure you don't give any personal information he scammers.
We will have more information on these calls once we receive permission-emails from a few more callers to confirm that this is a series of similar calls. Stay alert and 'IF IN DOUBT, HANG UP OR PULL OUT'
FRIDAY 19th June 2015
Respite Now and Fifty Plus News join forces to help spread the word about senior scams
This month saw the first monthly column that Respite Now will provide to Fifty-Plus News as we help try and educate the community about the real threat that scammers are having in the seniors community.
Here's a section from our first column in FIfty-Plus News which can be collected free from selected Coles Neworld supermarkets (service desk) and selected chemist outlets.
According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Australians gave more than $90 million to scammers in 2014, which is a slight increase on the 2013 figures. Sharing any concerns you have about a suspicious incident is the best way of minimising the pain and suffering others may experience.
Scammers typically tap into our emotions, our desires, our fears, needs and our wants. Combine this with all the smart technology around now and this provides scammers with the means of taking your money, faster and easier.
Dating and romance scams make up a large proportion of the fraud being committed, but advance fee fraud scams where you receive a message from someone who needs your help to get money out of a foreign bank account are still highly popular.
Don't think you are immune. Most of us think we would never fall for it, but we are all susceptible to scams. People who fall for scams aren't stupid or greedy. Responding to emotional and automatic cues helps us to make quick decisions.
http://www.fiftyplusnews.com/home/.maitos/fiftyplus/fiftyplusnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Fifty-Plus-News-June15-p1.jpg
FRIDAY 29th May 2015
May 2015: SCAMwatch is warning of phone calls from scammers claiming to collect debts.
Scammers have been cold calling homes claiming to be from energy providers, telecommunication providers or even government departments. Scamwatch have received reports of these phone calls demanding payments for overdue accounts and using the threat of disconnection to try to convince people to pay. These calls are targeting both individuals and businesses.
On some occasions it has been reported that the caller was from Centrelink and that pension payments would be stopped unless the debt was paid. Other examples include threats of arrest or court action for unpaid fines or bills or the threat of disconnection to essential services. What appears to be common to al lthese scams is the use of threats to create a sense of urgency so the recipient of the call doesn’t have the time to check the authenticity of the demand.
How these scams work- You receive an unexpected phone call from a person claiming you owe money for your phone or energy bill.
- The phone numbers they use will appear local but this doesn’t make the demand any more legitimate.
- The caller may be very threatening saying that if you do not pay you will be disconnected, receive a fine or your government benefits will cease.
- The scammer will provide some bank account details that they want you to pay to or ask you to pay by wire transfer.
Protect yourself
- If you receive a phone call asking to pay an overdue account, check its legitimacy by contacting your supplier using telephone numbers you know from bills you have received, the phone book or that you have found independently from an online search.
- Never give your personal, credit card or online account details over the phone unless you made the call and the phone number came from a trusted source.
- If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.
- Do not send money via a wire transfer to pay a bill.
You can report scams to Respite Now (see contact form at bottom of page) ACCC via the SCAMwatch report a scam page or by calling 1300 795 995.
MONDAY 18th May 2015
NATIONAL CONSUMER FRAUD WEEK (18th – 24th May 2015)
http://www.scamwatch.gov.au (retrieved 18th May 2015)
The scamwatch.gov.au website is promoting 'Consumer Fraud Week' (from today 18th May - 24th May) using the catchy tagline 'Get Smarter with your Data'. Data is the term typically used for the digital universe however any form of personal data is useful to a scammer. I am hearing about scammers deviously obtaining our personal information; names, addresses, phone/emails, date of birth and even worse our bank account numbers in more and more devious ways.
There are numerous ways they do this so it's important to ensure all your personal information is kept out of their reach. If they do get their hands on this information they can make unauthorised purchases on your credit card, or use your identity to open accounts at banks or even take out loans or carry out illegal business using your name. Some information such as. photos, date of birth, home address, Tax File Number and driver’s license numbers can be easily stolen using a variety of devious methods such as stealing mail (which may hold much of this information), social media, eaves dropping or spying on you at the bank. Identity fraud causes havoc in people's lives.
My point is, data is data (any information from any medium) not just a computer. So don't leave mail sitting in your letterbox unnecessarily, be careful when carrying and especially opening your bag or wallet in public and be skeptical of strangers requesting information from you.
CAUTIONARY COMMENT: Don't forget to be mindful when using ATM's because as they say, Cash is King'! Stay safe
READ MORE: http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/tag/fraudweek2015/
TUESDAY 5th April 2015
AUTO-RENEWALS
A legal technique that can catch anyone out, yep even me.....twice
This tactic is not a scam (it's not even illegal) but something I have been caught out with recently.
Using credit/debit cards to purchase products and services online is something that we all know to be very careful of. But when tactics used are legal and not evident when purchasing, it makes it very easy to pay more than you had expected. This is specific to online purchases (usually services) where there may be a need for regular, repeated or future purchases from the company you are dealing with. Examples of these are telecommunication companies, insurers, publishers and numerous other services.
I recently needed to purchase some fairly specific photographic images for use in an article I was writing on behalf of one of our partners. I found two separate companies that each had one photo I felt would suit the article I was writing. The process to order these images is quite simple and typical of any online purchase. I firstly ensured the site was SSL encrypted. You can see this when the web address starts with https the S at the end is the critical letter. If there is no S, do not continue with transaction. There should also be a small padlock inside the browser window (where the web address is)
UN-TICK THE BOX
The tactic being used which I didn't notice was due to a little box down the bottom of the page which has a tick in it. If you do not remove the tick the company will automatically charge you for the product or service again next month (or next year what ever may be applicable to this type of purchase.) It was only when I was checking my bank statement that I saw the second deduction and I contacted the companies involved and thankfully they both agreed to refund the total amount of the second deduction.
LOOK FOR THE S IN THE ADDRESS
Just to summarise the steps to ensure you're online safety, look for the S at the end of http ebfore the website address. This will appear as you arrive at the check-out or payment stage. So before you enter any personal information, especially bank account or credit/debit card details check the site's security. You will also be able to see a little padlock in the browser window. This must be in the browser window and not just on the website somewhere else. The browser window is where the website address appears. Safe sites now are using a green (meaning go) panel with the company name in it to also show that it is safe. Always check for these details and if in doubt, pull out and remember, look for the S in the address.
Please share any fraudulent or scamming activity that you have come across or know about because as we know, Information is both a fraudsters friend and enemy so the more we can share this information the less chances we have of becoming a victim of these unscrupulous and cunning scammers.
*WHEN USING THE 'CONTACT FORM' BELOW YOUR COMMUNICATION COMES DIRECTLY TO OUR OFFICE. NO PERSONAL DETAILS ARE PUBLISHED ANYWHERE. WITH YOUR PERMISSION WE WILL EDIT, SEND YOU A COPY FOR APPROVAL & ONLY THEN PUBLISH THE STORY ONLY AFTER YOU HAVE APPROVED. YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IS NEVER PUBLISHED OR SEEN BY OTHERS.
TUESDAY 28th April 2015
RISE OF COUNTERFEIT CASH HURTS OUR COMMUNITY
© ninemsn 2015 (retrieved 5th May 2015 3:35pm)
The increased circulation of forged bank notes could cost Australian businesses and consumers millions in coming years, a new report has warned. A Reserve Bank of Australia study, released today, looked at worldwide cash forgery figures in 2013.
While only 16 notes per million minted were reported to be fake - at a cost of five cents per Australian - effects on low-income earners and small business were significant.
The study said some business faced having an entire day’s trade being wiped from their books if forgeries went undetected.
“Low-income households use cash more than other payment methods and could be exposed to fraud losses from counterfeiting more than other households,” The Social Costs of Counterfeiting report revealed.
Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/05/05/06/49/rise-of-counterfeit-cash-tipped-to-hurt-small-businesses-and-low-income-earners#8HozTkWGbbXGJQ4u.99
*WHEN USING THE 'CONTACT FORM' BELOW YOUR COMMUNICATION COMES DIRECTLY TO OUR OFFICE. NO PERSONAL DETAILS ARE PUBLISHED ANYWHERE. WITH YOUR PERMISSION WE WILL EDIT, SEND YOU A COPY FOR APPROVAL & ONLY THEN PUBLISH THE STORY ONLY AFTER YOU HAVE APPROVED. YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IS NEVER PUBLISHED OR SEEN BY OTHERS.
THURSDAY 16th April 2015
Australians too trusting, fall for social media scams: Symantec
By Aimee Chanthadavong April 14, 2015 -- 14:00 GMT (Retrieved from ZDNET.COM 16/4/15)
Summary:Symantec's latest internet security report showed that Australia ranked as the seventh most targeted country globally when it came to social media scams in 2014.
Australians love to share, perhaps a little too much, with Symantec's internet security report revealing that manually shared social media scams in Australia were disproportionately higher than the rest of the world in 2014.
Globally, Symantec found that 70 percent of social media scams were shared manually in 2014, but for Australia, it was at 87 percent. This result put Australia as the seventh most targeted country globally when it came to social media scams.
Further to this, Australia ranked as the second most targeted when it came to social media scams within the Asia-Pacific region, behind India.
READ MORE: http://www.zdnet.com/article/australians-too-trusting-fall-for-social-media-scams-symantec/
WEDNESDAY 11th February 2015
Oh no, this has just been sent to us from a client.
After returning from a family function, Vincent was getting out of his car in the driveway at the front of his house when a gentleman (for the want of a better word) appeared from the front door area. A little startled, VIncent asked the man what he was doing? With that he was told that the guy (Ashbee) had just moved in to the neighborhood and his dog had got out and was wandering around the streets and he thought he saw 'Jordie' run into Vincent and Francis' house. Vincent thought it sounded a bit suspicious and asked the guy for a description of his dog or if he had a photo of him on his phone (as most pet owners seem to have). Ashbee said he didn't have a photo but Jordie was a black and white border collie with a brown collar with a silver cross on it.
Vincent asked Ashbee for his number and said he would call him if he sees his dog. Ashbee gave Vincent his phone number and left. Vincent noticed him walking in the opposite direction to where he originally pointed when explaining he had just moved into the area.
CAUTIONARY COMMENT: Vincent called the number Ashbee had given him the next day and it was there was no one who knew an Ashbee. We are not clear what was going on but Ashbee was obviously up to no good. We can't really provide any 'warning advice' however it is worth being aware at all times.
SUNDAY 4th January, 2015
IT WAS JUST A RAINY FEBRUARY AFTERNOON
Bill has now lost $76,000
It was a rainy February afternoon when Bill Smiley answered a knock on the front door of his home. Three men on his verandah told the elderly retiree that his gutters were leaking and his roof was in bad shape. They were trying to earn some extra money, the men explained, and could fix his problems before they got worse. Smiley knew his roof and gutters needed work and with the rain knew sooner rather than later. Even though the men told him they weren't contractors, they sounded sincere and looked trusting and ready to work. So he wrote them a cheque for $3,000 to buy materials to get started on the project.
"They were convincing," he recalled. "They made it seem like they were doing me a favor."
Over the next 15 days, the men requested 10 more cheques for amounts ranging from $1,500 to $15,000. And Smiley wrote them out - a total of $76,000.
CAUTIONARY COMMENT: The scammers got the roof into such a state of disrepair that with more rain coming they were able to put Bill under pressure to write more cheques. If someone is putting pressure on you for money that usually is a sure sign that something is wrong. Walk away, buy yourself some time, tell someone about it and never hand money, cheques or personal information to people you don't know.
RESPITE NOW WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU IF YOU'VE EXPERIENCED A SCAM OR KNOW OF ONE THAT OTHERS SHOULD HEAR ABOUT; INFORMATION IS THE SCAMMER'S ENEMY. YOU MAY HAVE A 'CAUTIONARY COMMENT' OR ADVICE ON HOW YOU DIVERTED THE EFFORTS OF A SCAMMER. YOUR HELP WILL ALERT OTHERS.
*WHEN USING THE 'CONTACT FORM' BELOW YOUR COMMUNICATION COMES DIRECTLY TO OUR OFFICE. NO PERSONAL DETAILS ARE PUBLISHED ANYWHERE. WITH YOUR PERMISSION WE WILL EDIT, SEND YOU A COPY FOR APPROVAL & ONLY THEN PUBLISH THE STORY ONLY AFTER YOU HAVE APPROVED. YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IS NEVER PUBLISHED OR SEEN BY OTHERS.
Friday, 5th December 2014
The 'QUICK, SOMEONE IS TAKING MONEY FROM YOU' Scam
It happened about 1 month ago to someone we know
Protect yourself
The phone rang and Shelley answered. She was alone in the house which didn't happen very often. She wasn't feeling well this particular day but what the person on the other end of the phone was about to say made her go in to a panic.
He introduced himself and Shelley can't remember where he said he was from but he quickly got her attention when he said, "We have just had notification that an attempt to take money from your account is in progress and you will need to log-in to your account to stop it occurring. We only have 15 minutes. Shelley panicked, she didn't know the log-in, Robert handled all of that stuff but he was out and Shelley had to act quick. Although feeling unwell Shelley clicked to attention because it all sounded so real. The man on the end of the phone told her that she must make contact with Robert and either get the log-in numbers or get him to come home and he should log in. Shelley asked the man if he could call back in 10 minutes and she will see what she can do. Amazingly, the fraudster agreed. Shelly, still dressed in her pyjamas and dressing gown ran outside the front of the house and in a panic went knocking on neighbours she didn't even know trying to find someone to help her get in contact with Robert as someone was trying to take money out of their bank account. Beside herself Shelley realised 10 minutes were nearly up and ran back home and waited for the nice man to call back. Just then Robert walked in the house and could see that Shelley wasn't well. She told him what was going on and Robert put two and two together and pretty quickly realised what was going on. The fraudster rang back and Robert couldn't help abusing him and told him the stress and worry he had caused Shelley. Shelley sufferers from dementia and has already had a stroke. The fraudster still tried to get Robert to log-on, not even a bit concerned for Shelley.Robert hung up with a loud thud and tried to help Shelley calm down. It took her a week to get over that one incident.
CAUTIONARY COMMENT: This could have ended much worse. Tell your parents, neighbours and other senior loved ones to be aware. Unfortunately it is better to be a little more wary these days when opening the front door, answering the phone, opening and/or responding to emails and even when out in public. Someone with ulterior motives might spot you and think you to be an easy target....their next victim.
RESPITE NOW WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU IF YOU'VE EXPERIENCED A SCAM OR KNOW OF ONE THAT OTHERS SHOULD HEAR ABOUT; INFORMATION IS THE SCAMMER'S ENEMY. YOU MAY HAVE A 'CAUTIONARY COMMENT' OR ADVICE ON HOW YOU DIVERTED THE EFFORTS OF A SCAMMER. YOUR HELP WILL ALERT OTHERS.
*WHEN USING THE 'CONTACT FORM' BELOW YOUR COMMUNICATION COMES DIRECTLY TO OUR OFFICE. NO PERSONAL DETAILS ARE PUBLISHED ANYWHERE. WITH YOUR PERMISSION WE WILL EDIT, SEND YOU A COPY FOR APPROVAL & ONLY THEN PUBLISH THE STORY ONLY AFTER YOU HAVE APPROVED. YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IS NEVER PUBLISHED OR SEEN BY OTHERS.
He introduced himself and Shelley can't remember where he said he was from but he quickly got her attention when he said, "We have just had notification that an attempt to take money from your account is in progress and you will need to log-in to your account to stop it occurring. We only have 15 minutes. Shelley panicked, she didn't know the log-in, Robert handled all of that stuff but he was out and Shelley had to act quick. Although feeling unwell Shelley clicked to attention because it all sounded so real. The man on the end of the phone told her that she must make contact with Robert and either get the log-in numbers or get him to come home and he should log in. Shelley asked the man if he could call back in 10 minutes and she will see what she can do. Amazingly, the fraudster agreed. Shelly, still dressed in her pyjamas and dressing gown ran outside the front of the house and in a panic went knocking on neighbours she didn't even know trying to find someone to help her get in contact with Robert as someone was trying to take money out of their bank account. Beside herself Shelley realised 10 minutes were nearly up and ran back home and waited for the nice man to call back. Just then Robert walked in the house and could see that Shelley wasn't well. She told him what was going on and Robert put two and two together and pretty quickly realised what was going on. The fraudster rang back and Robert couldn't help abusing him and told him the stress and worry he had caused Shelley. Shelley sufferers from dementia and has already had a stroke. The fraudster still tried to get Robert to log-on, not even a bit concerned for Shelley.Robert hung up with a loud thud and tried to help Shelley calm down. It took her a week to get over that one incident.
CAUTIONARY COMMENT: This could have ended much worse. Tell your parents, neighbours and other senior loved ones to be aware. Unfortunately it is better to be a little more wary these days when opening the front door, answering the phone, opening and/or responding to emails and even when out in public. Someone with ulterior motives might spot you and think you to be an easy target....their next victim.
RESPITE NOW WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU IF YOU'VE EXPERIENCED A SCAM OR KNOW OF ONE THAT OTHERS SHOULD HEAR ABOUT; INFORMATION IS THE SCAMMER'S ENEMY. YOU MAY HAVE A 'CAUTIONARY COMMENT' OR ADVICE ON HOW YOU DIVERTED THE EFFORTS OF A SCAMMER. YOUR HELP WILL ALERT OTHERS.
*WHEN USING THE 'CONTACT FORM' BELOW YOUR COMMUNICATION COMES DIRECTLY TO OUR OFFICE. NO PERSONAL DETAILS ARE PUBLISHED ANYWHERE. WITH YOUR PERMISSION WE WILL EDIT, SEND YOU A COPY FOR APPROVAL & ONLY THEN PUBLISH THE STORY ONLY AFTER YOU HAVE APPROVED. YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IS NEVER PUBLISHED OR SEEN BY OTHERS.
Monday 3rd November, 2014
The 'GRANDPARENT' Scam
there are numerous variants of this one
Here's another scam which has been trending in America for some time an unfortunately, like many things has started to occur closer to home. I can relate to this as our son is overseas at the moment and I know his grandparents would panic and be very vulnerable targets if the below scammer rang them.
It's called the 'GRANDPARENT SCAM. There are other variants of this one. The senior gets a phone call, “I’m a friend of your grandson. He’s been locked up in a jail in Berlin over a passport misunderstanding. Another person from the backpacker hostel has put up $200 but we need another $800 to get bail so he can meet with the Australian consular representative tomorrow morning. Payment must be made by midnight today. Pls don’t tell anyone, he doesn't want his parents to find out. Can you deposit money in my account so I can bail him out, there has been a big error. We will be able to get the money back once he is out of jail and it is all sorted out.
CAUTIONARY COMMENT: Note the common strategy of placing TIME PRESSURE on the victim. "Payment must be made by 3pm" and like the 2 other cases above, pressure is exerted causing us to shortcut our ordinarily clear thinking. When pressure and emotions are high, we often do things we normally wouldn't. We are all familiar with the pressure a salesperson might apply to us when looking at a new car or when buying white goods, but try and be alerted when undue pressure is applied when it comes to handing over money or personal information. There are no circumstances when anyone should be applying pressure to you when dealing with your money.
RESPITE NOW WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU IF YOU'VE EXPERIENCED A SCAM OR KNOW OF ONE THAT OTHERS SHOULD HEAR ABOUT; INFORMATION IS THE SCAMMER'S ENEMY. YOU MAY HAVE A 'CAUTIONARY COMMENT' OR ADVICE ON HOW YOU DIVERTED THE EFFORTS OF A SCAMMER. YOUR HELP WILL ALERT OTHERS.
*WHEN USING THE 'CONTACT FORM' BELOW YOUR COMMUNICATION COMES DIRECTLY TO OUR OFFICE. NO PERSONAL DETAILS ARE PUBLISHED ANYWHERE. WITH YOUR PERMISSION WE WILL EDIT, SEND YOU A COPY FOR APPROVAL & ONLY THEN PUBLISH THE STORY ONLY AFTER YOU HAVE APPROVED. YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IS NEVER PUBLISHED OR SEEN BY OTHERS.
It's called the 'GRANDPARENT SCAM. There are other variants of this one. The senior gets a phone call, “I’m a friend of your grandson. He’s been locked up in a jail in Berlin over a passport misunderstanding. Another person from the backpacker hostel has put up $200 but we need another $800 to get bail so he can meet with the Australian consular representative tomorrow morning. Payment must be made by midnight today. Pls don’t tell anyone, he doesn't want his parents to find out. Can you deposit money in my account so I can bail him out, there has been a big error. We will be able to get the money back once he is out of jail and it is all sorted out.
CAUTIONARY COMMENT: Note the common strategy of placing TIME PRESSURE on the victim. "Payment must be made by 3pm" and like the 2 other cases above, pressure is exerted causing us to shortcut our ordinarily clear thinking. When pressure and emotions are high, we often do things we normally wouldn't. We are all familiar with the pressure a salesperson might apply to us when looking at a new car or when buying white goods, but try and be alerted when undue pressure is applied when it comes to handing over money or personal information. There are no circumstances when anyone should be applying pressure to you when dealing with your money.
RESPITE NOW WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU IF YOU'VE EXPERIENCED A SCAM OR KNOW OF ONE THAT OTHERS SHOULD HEAR ABOUT; INFORMATION IS THE SCAMMER'S ENEMY. YOU MAY HAVE A 'CAUTIONARY COMMENT' OR ADVICE ON HOW YOU DIVERTED THE EFFORTS OF A SCAMMER. YOUR HELP WILL ALERT OTHERS.
*WHEN USING THE 'CONTACT FORM' BELOW YOUR COMMUNICATION COMES DIRECTLY TO OUR OFFICE. NO PERSONAL DETAILS ARE PUBLISHED ANYWHERE. WITH YOUR PERMISSION WE WILL EDIT, SEND YOU A COPY FOR APPROVAL & ONLY THEN PUBLISH THE STORY ONLY AFTER YOU HAVE APPROVED. YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IS NEVER PUBLISHED OR SEEN BY OTHERS.
* NAMES & LOCATIONS IN SENIORS SCAM ALERT HAVE BEEN ALTERED FOR PRIVACY. PLEASE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT ANY STORIES YOU PROVIDE WILL BE TREATED CONFIDENTIALLY AND WE WILL ONLY PUBLISH INFORMATION YOU AGREE TO. PRIOR TO PUBLISHING YOUR STORY WE SEND YOU A COPY TO APPROVE. YOUR PERSONAL DETAILS ARE NOT VISIBLE BY ANYONE. THE CONTACT FORM ABOVE COMES DIRECTLY TO OUR OFFICE AND UNLIKE OUR BLOG PAGE YOUR CONTACT WITH US IS STRICTLY PRIVATE.
Call us 24/7 direct 0403 577 827 or 1300 791 562 or if you prefer info@respitenow.com.au
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