On January 31, a local Bundaberg resident received a letter in the mail believed to be from a telecom company.
The letter stated that the resident must pay $480.17 for a cancelled account, otherwise a credit reporting agency would be informed.
Unfortunately, the resident paid the scam using the payment details on the reverse before realising it was a scam.
Police would like to remind residents that scammers can pretend to be trusted companies such as your bank, gas, electricity, water or phone provider.
They will threaten to cancel your service or charge you excessive penalty fees if you don’t pay the bill immediately or in this particular case threaten debt collectors.
Sometimes they may impersonate a business, stating you have an item to pick up or you will be charged a holding fee every day you don’t pay.
Whatever the case, they try to make you worried and act without stopping to think and check that the story is true.
Protect yourself by following these tips:
- Don’t be pressured by threatening callers/letters/emails. Stop, think and check whether their story is true.
- A government agency or trusted company will never ask you to pay by unusual methods such as by gift card, wire transfers or Bitcoins.
- Verify the identity of the contact by calling the relevant organisation directly – find them through an independent source such as a phone book, past bill or online search.
- Do not use the contact details provided in emails/letters or given to you during phone calls. Again, find through an independent source.
For more information about scams and how to protect yourself, visit ScamWatch.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
Quote this reference number: QP2200216275.