Street Watch Manningham: Police warn of scammers targeting Chinese people in Melbourne’s east

CON artists are targeting Chinese people living in Melbourne’s east, defrauding two victims out of several hundred thousand dollars recently.

Police are hoping to speak to this woman in relation to a series of banking scam.

CON artists are targeting Chinese people living in Melbourne’s east, defrauding two victims out of several hundred thousand dollars recently.

Detectives from the fraud and extortion squad have released CCTV images of a woman they wish to speak to in relation to a scam where offenders manufactured fraudulent identification in the name of the victims.

Between April 11 and 26 this year, a woman went to several banks and ATM locations in suburbs including Doncaster East, Bulleen and Templestowe.

She used a fake Chinese passport to make administrative changes, before later transferring cash out of the victim’s account.

On April 26, she tried to transfer money from another victim’s account from a bank in Bulleen, but was foiled when the victim noticed the fraudulent activity and contacted the bank.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

DONCASTER EAST

A dark coloured sedan smashed into a Holden Commodore station wagon, causing significant damage to both vehicles, before speeding off. The offending vehicle was travelling north on Victoria St, Doncaster East, when it collided with the other car at the George St intersection about 9pm on May 20. Nunawading Highway Patrol Sergeant Tim Price said they believed the car might be a Mitsubishi and appealed for help from the public. “It will have significant damage to the front bumper area and missing an indicator assembly,” he said. “The offending vehicle was travelling north and collided with a blue Commodore travelling south causing significant damage.” Anyone with information is asked to contact Nunawading Highway Patrol on 9871 4144.

DONCASTER

Terrified homeowners were woken by an overnight car fire in Tristania St on Wednesday, June 6. Detectives from Manningham CIU attended the Doncaster scene and are investigating the incident. Police believed the 3am blaze was deliberately lit. Anyone with information is urged to contact Manningham CIU on 8841 3945 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

LOWER TEMPLESTOWE

A 19-year-old man was lucky to escape injury after he slammed into a tree in Hodgson St and the vehicle burst into flames. Two passers-by smashed a back window and helped the Lower Templestowe man to safety, Nunawading Highway Patrol Senior Constable Brett Truscott said. He said the driver was unable to provide police with an explanation for the collision. Sen-Constable Truscott said they had ruled out drugs and alcohol but were still investigating.