Bogus NBN workers trying to scam Elwood residents

Rattled residents of Melbourne’s inner south are warning people to look out for dodgy men trying to get into houses by pretending to be NBN contractors. Here’s how the scam works.

Rattled Elwood residents are warning people to look out for dodgy men trying to get into people’s houses by posing as NBN contractors.

One resident, Francine, said four suspicious men came to her apartment at 8.30am on September 17, saying they were installing NBN cables inside the building.

While NBN contractors were scheduled to be doing work, Francine said the men had no ID or information, no body corporate authorisation, and their car had NSW numberplates.

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She said the young men — three of southern European appearance and one black man, all wearing tradie clothes — had been lurking around Glen Huntly Rd and surrounds.

“It was weird, like they were waiting for someone to come but they didn’t have tools or anything and had no authorisation from the body corporate,” Francine said.

“They stayed for about half an hour before I told them I was calling police, then they all got in the car and left.

“It was like they wanted to break into the apartment and take off with stuff.”

Francine said she had been extra cautious after her computer and a bike had gone missing from the apartment block just weeks earlier, and wanted others to be wary too.

A Milton St resident also contacted police after being approached on Friday by two suspicious men wearing high-vis vests and carrying a clipboard claiming to be from NBN, but also not carrying ID.

“(They) couldn’t answer my mum’s questions as to why we haven’t received any communication of it from the body corp,” she said.

“We chased it up with body corp and NBN people, and installation for us isn’t due to start until next year.”

Yet another Elwood woman, who also did not want to be named, said she’d hada similar experience on Sunday September 16, when four people jumped the fence between her property.

“(They were) telling me they were looking at the fence. Yeah right,” she said.

“I overheard them say they could kick it and get through after saying they wanted to take a green bike.”

NBN Co Mitchell Bingemann confirmed scammers were impersonating NBN Co staff to take advantage of people.

“Residents must be aware that our delivery partners and staff would never make unsolicited calls or door knocks to sell broadband services (and) we don’t request payment,” he said.

“Protect your personal information by being on guard, verify who are you are talking to and do not give your personal details or bank account details to an unsolicited caller.”

He also urged people to contact their provider or Scamwatch on 1300 795 995 if something seemed suspicious.

Victoria Police declined to comment.

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