Hi Mum text scam: Templestowe man arrested alleged after online, SMS activity
A Templestowe man has been accused of fleecing customers in five Melbourne suburbs on online marketplaces.
East
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A Templestowe man has been arrested and charged after allegedly scamming customers online for electronic goods in parts of Melbourne.
Doncaster police arrested the 21-year-old man after he allegedly used the ‘Hi Mum’ SMS scam to take “a substantial amount of money” from customers from December 3-7, 2022.
According to the Federal Government, several variations of the scam are circulating, which involves text messages appearing to be from ‘Mum’ or other family members claiming to have forgotten or lost their card, and asking recipients to transfer money.
Police allege the Templestowe man went on online marketplaces and conducted five fraudulent transactions with customers in Ringwood, Mitcham, Doncaster East, Mill Park and Narre Warren.
Officers understand the products were obtained in person using false documents.
The man has been charged with five counts of obtaining property by deception, and bailed to appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court on July 18.
Police have encouraged the public to be wary of current and emerging scams by visiting scamwatch.gov.au
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