Warning as scam preys on vulnerable group with forged documents

Police have issued an urgent warning over a cruel scam preying on a vulnerable group in a local community.

Police have issued an urgent warning as a new scam preys on vulnerable Australians.

Scammers are seeking to forge wills and estate documents of vulnerable members in the Illawarra community in Sydney.

Wollongong officers received reports of documents allegedly being forged earlier in the year, with inquiries ongoing.

Elderly members of the community and their families have been urged to take precautions to lower the risk of the latest scam.

Will fraud occurs when misleading or deceptive conduct is used while preparing a will, while executor fraud occurs when a person appointed to administer an estate uses deceitful practices to gain estate assets.

Police have issued a warning as scammers are seeking to forge wills and estate documents of vulnerable members in the Illawarra community in Sydney. Photo by: NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

This can include false or fabricated or misleading statements are created or used for the financial benefit.

“Other examples of estate fraud include: a person signing a will that was a different document then they intended to sign, a person signing a will when they limited mental capacity, and an executor could pay themselves advances or unreasonable expenses from the estate,” a statement from a NSW Police spokesperson explained.

Affected people, or anyone with information, have been urged to come forward to police.