Fair Trading Deputy Commissioner Steve Griffin is warning residents about scammers offering bogus refunds for excess bank fees.

Mr Griffin said a Tweed Heads resident was yesterday contacted by a scammer calling himself Thomas Wilson and alleging he was from NSW Fair Trading and advising the resident about their entitlement to a refund on overcharged bank fees.

“The scammer told the resident she would need to pay an upfront fee of $300, payable via Western Union, into an account in New Delhi or provide her credit card details directly to him,” he said.

“Thomas Wilson does not work for NSW Fair Trading and the phone number he provided to the Tweed resident does not exist.”

Mr Griffin said NSW Fair Trading would never place calls to people recommending they make payments to any business or organisation.

“This is a scam and Fair Trading has this week received two additional, similar reports from residents in Tweed Heads, as well as reports from residents in Lismore, Queanbeyan and Wollongong,” he said.

“People should be extremely wary about anyone offering cash, refunds or other forms of financial benefit.

“If an offer seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is.”

Mr Griffin said the best way to avoid being exploited by scammers was to verify any claims or offers with financial institutions or businesses mentioned.

“You should contact the organisation directly by telephone or through official websites,” he said.

“Don’t use phone numbers given to you by the person making the offer and don’t click on web links in emails because they can take you to elaborate hoax sites that might look legitimate.

“If you receive a call allegedly from NSW Fair Trading, you can check its authenticity by contacting 13 32 20.”

Mr Griffin encouraged consumers to use the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission SCAMwatch website, www.scamwatch.gov.au, for the latest information on scams.

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