Scammers use fake Fair Trading names and numbers 

17 July 2012

New South Wales Fair Trading is urging residents to hang up on scam phone calls.

Assistant Commissioner Robert Vellar said there had been a recent spate of scam telephone calls to residents in country and city locations including Broken Hill, Sawtell, Young, Maryland (Newcastle) and Narrabeen and Cherrybrook in northern Sydney.

Reports have been received that scam callers claim to represent New South Wales Fair Trading and request money be transferred into accounts at banks or money transfer institutions.

The scammers tell consumers they are owed funds and in order to receive the windfall, money is required to be deposited for administrative purposes.

This is of course false and the scammers pocket the payment.

Mr Vellar said, “Fair Trading does not cold call consumers and does not request payment via telephone calls.

Scammers often used internet based telephone services from overseas locations that make it a difficult for authorities to tackle.”

NSW Fair Trading advises people who suspect they are telephoned by a scammer to terminate the call.

If a payment has been requested, people should hang up and contact the local office or branch of the organisation the caller claimed to be associated with.

Do not return a telephone call to the number provided by the caller as that number could also be part of the scam.

People who have lost money should contact NSW Police on 13 14 44.

For details of scams and to report scams, download a free Scam Buster app from the Fair Trading website.

Consumers should also report scams to SCAMwatch at www.scamwatch.gov.au

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