Scam season

By Nicole Williams
RESIDENTS are being warned to watch out for scammers during Christmas time.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has warned that Christmas is a busy time for scammers trying to earn themselves a little extra for the festive season.
“Although scammers are always around, they have great opportunity at Christmas to sneak under the radar of consumers who are busy with trying to buy the perfect present or arrange their summer holidays,” ACCC deputy chair Peter Kell said.
The warning comes after a number of scams have been reported in the south-eastern suburbs.
Cranbourne resident, Kirsty Roberts, received an overseas phone call from someone claiming to be from the Department of Reclaim Experts.
To receive $3647, Ms Roberts was told to transfer $300 as part of a government tax.
Ms Roberts said she knew the call was a scam and called her bank to confirm nothing suspicious had taken place.
Police have also confiscated a number of bogus traveller’s cheques which have been presented at post offices in Fountain Gate, Pakenham and Dandenong.
Police said the cheques appeared to come from a person in Ghana who contacted residents who answered an online advertisement.
The ACCC is warning against a number of common Christmas scams like charity scams, telephone scams, door to door scams and holiday scams. The ACCC has launched a SCAMwatch website (www.scamwatch.gov.au) with details of common scams and what to look for in identifying scams.