Quick thinking blows scam

– Lia Bichel
A NARRE Warren woman who was contacted by a scam artist recently said she feared elderly residents could be targeted next.
Leoni Gatt, 38, said someone posing as a government official phoned her and said she was owed $5248 in overpaid bank fees.
The man said that all she had to do was transfer $200 into his solicitor’s bank account and she could receive the money.
“I thought it was strange right away because I have never paid that much in bank fees,” Ms Gatt said.
Ms Gatt said she could tell from the quality of the phone line that the call came from overseas.
“They gave me a number to call and when I did, I could tell it was to someone overseas,” she said.
Ms Gatt called her bank, a local MP and found information on the internet all confirming the phone call was a scam.
“I was so angry – these people have no morals or decency,” she said.
“Luckily, I knew it was a scam and never transferred money, but a lot of older people may not realise it’s a scam if they get the phone call, and may end up losing a lot of money, ”she said.
City of Casey Leading Senior Constable Michael Gledhill said this incident provided a timely reminder to people to not give anyone personal information over the phone.