On January 31, a neighborhood Bundaberg resident acquired a letter within the mail believed to be from a telecom firm.

The letter acknowledged that the resident should pay $480.17 for a cancelled account, in any other case a credit score reporting company would learn.

Sadly, the resident paid the rip-off utilizing the fee particulars on the reverse earlier than realising it was a rip-off.

Police wish to remind residents that scammers can faux to be trusted corporations similar to your financial institution, fuel, electrical energy, water or cellphone supplier.

They may threaten to cancel your service or cost you extreme penalty charges if you happen to don’t pay the invoice instantly or on this specific case threaten debt collectors.

Typically they might impersonate a enterprise, stating you’ve gotten an merchandise to select up or you’ll be charged a holding charge each day you don’t pay.

Regardless of the case, they attempt to make you fearful and act with out stopping to suppose and examine that the story is true.

Defend your self by following the following tips:

• Don’t be pressured by threatening callers/letters/emails. Cease, suppose and examine whether or not their story is true.
• A authorities company or trusted firm won’t ever ask you to pay by uncommon strategies similar to by reward card, wire transfers or Bitcoins.
• Confirm the identification of the contact by calling the related organisation straight – discover them by way of an unbiased supply similar to a cellphone ebook, previous invoice or on-line search.
• Don’t use the contact particulars supplied in emails/letters or given to you throughout cellphone calls. Once more, discover by way of an unbiased supply.

For extra details about scams and how you can defend your self, go to ScamWatch.

You probably have info for police, contact Policelink by offering info utilizing the on-line suspicious exercise type 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

Report crime info anonymously through Crime Stoppers. Name 1800 333 000 or report on-line at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.

Quote this reference quantity: QP2200216275.