Thousands of Aussies warned as scammers implement new scam

In an age where trust is a currency as valuable as the money in our wallets, a new scam has emerged, exploiting the essence of our faith in authority.

Scammers, with their bag of tricks ever-expanding, are now impersonating police officers to swindle unsuspecting individuals out of their personal information and hard-earned money.



This latest scam has seen a number of residents receive phone calls from fraudsters claiming to be from a Sydney police station, specifically The Rocks Police Station.

These callers weave a narrative where the person on the other end of the line is purportedly a victim of a scam or online fraud, ironically, while attempting to perpetrate a scam themselves.


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Scammers use this new tactic of impersonating police officers to trick residents. Credit: Shutterstock


The scammers' modus operandi involves requesting personal details over the phone.

Community members have reported multiple instances of these deceptive calls and voicemails, prompting an investigation by the Sydney City Police Area Command officers.

In light of these events, police have warned the public sternly.

A police spokesperson has emphasised the importance of safeguarding your personal information. Do not disclose your personal details, bank information, PINs, or account passwords to anyone over the phone.



‘If you are suspicious about the credentials of a person on the phone, ask questions of them. If they avoid answering or refuse to provide information, hang up,’ the spokesperson said.

‘Don’t let scammers pressure you—scammers use detailed scripts to convince you that they’re the real deal and create a high-pressure situation to make a decision on the spot.’

‘If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately and contact police immediately to report the incident.’



In a similar story, scammers posed as organisations or authorities offering help to scam victims by asking for fees or personal details to ‘help’ recover lost funds, often leading to financial losses.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission advised against using these services py providing some tips. You can learn more about the story here.
Tip
If you or someone else has been scammed, you can report it to Scamwatch here.

You can also head over to our Scam Watch forum to stay updated with the latest tricks scammers use to deceive people out of their money and sensitive details.
Key Takeaways

  • Residents have been warned about a new scam involving hoax callers impersonating police officers.
  • The scammers attempt to acquire personal details by claiming the call recipient has been a victim of fraud.
  • Sydney City Police Area Command officers are actively investigating the source of these scam calls.
  • Police advise against sharing personal information or bank details with unidentified callers and to report any suspicious interactions to the authorities.
Have you or someone you know encountered a similar scam? Share your experiences in the comments below!
 

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If I get a call from a number I do not recognise, then I don't answer it. If it is a serious call they will try again anyway and probably via a different method. If the same number continues to call I just put it on a reject system so the next time they ring I don't get the call.
 
Last week I got a phone call from "MICROSOFT" advising me that my email address was being comprimised by lots of scammersand if I did not listen to what I had to do my computer would be blocked. I advised this caller who gave me his name and the supposed Microsoft telephone number that I could check, that Microsoft never call you by telephone. This is how we got hacked nearly 2 years ago now and they took all our money except $2.00. I let him waffle on and then hung up on him. He immediately called me back and asked me why I hung up on him. I told him politely again that Microsoft never ring you and he then advised me my computer would be blocked. I said fine go ahead and block it. His name was Andy Marshall and it was a mobile number that came up with his name.
Please members if you get a call like this it is a scam so be very careful and do not fall for it. I have given his name (which is probably false) and the number to the appropriate authories for them to take action.
An hour or so later I said to my husband - I suppose I should go and check to see if my computer has been blocked like the last time - but no it was still in full working order and still is. (keep my fingers crossed).
so please I beg you all to be on your look out for thugs like these.
Elizabeth Minty
I have had scam calls supposedly from Microsoft stating that I am having problems with my computer. I have replied by telling them I am not having problems and telling them to stop wasting my time at which point we both hand up.
 
Fortunately I don’t think I’ve been scammed. However I am very careful not to divulge any personal details and delete immediately if it sounds shonky
 

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