Moreton City victims lose $30k to phone, courier scam
Police have issued a scam warning to the Moreton Bay public after three elderly victims lost $30,000 to a sophisticated phone and courier scam.
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Residents are being warned by police to remain vigilant of scams after three Moreton Bay residents recently lost more than $30,000 to a phone call and courier scam.
The Petrie Criminal Investigation Branch confirmed it was investigating reports the scam had targeted people in the Moreton area.
Victim’s were enticed to withdraw and hand over thousands of dollars in cash.
In all three instances, the victim received a phone call from an unknown person advising that the victim’s bank account had fraudulent transactions.
The victim was then transferred another person who claimed to be from an anti-fraud department of a bank or government agency and told a bank employee was suspected of fraud so they need the victim’s help to investigate.
The victim was asked to attend their usual bank, withdraw cash, then return home and provide that cash to a courier who attended to their home address.
Victims were told the serial numbers on the cash would be traced or fingerprints taken from the envelopes in order to identify the bank employee allegedly committing the frauds.
An example of this incident occurred on May 8 when a 73-year-old Kallangur woman withdrew and handed over $9500.
It happened again on June 13 when an 84-year-old Bray Park woman withdrew $10,400 and on June 18 an 81-year-old Lawnton woman withdrew $11,000.
Police have been working to educate banks in the area about the scams.
They were also warning anyone in the Moreton community who might receive similar phone calls.
Police said scams were ever-changing and though this exact scenario may not be repeated, it was important to be vigilant when engaging with people on the phone or online.
Police would continue to investigate alongside other government agencies.
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