Stawell Police have issued a warning to residents to be aware of calls from scammers falsely claiming to be from the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions or Australian Tax Office.
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Scammers have recently been calling Australians telling them that there is a warrant out for their arrest. Many people have reported to SCAMwatch that messages have been recorded on their answering machines asking them to call back later.
Stawell Police have also received numerous calls in relation to the scam.
One of the telephone numbers provided is 02 6100 3027, among many others, and they ask you to call during office hours to discuss the matter further.
However, the telephone number has no connection with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, Australian Taxation Office or any other state or commonwealth department.
The scammers may spin a range of stories about why an arrest warrant has been issued, including that you have failed to pay taxes.
Scammers typically ask for money to be sent via wire transfer as it's nearly impossible to recover money sent this way. They may also ask for people's financial and other personal details to access their money and use this information to commit other scams.
Be on guard, if you receive a phone call from someone saying you have an arrest warrant and asking you to pay a fee, hang up and do not respond. If in doubt, don't use the contact details provided - look up the government department or organisation yourself in the phone book or online and phone or email them.
How these scams work:
- You receive a call out of the blue from someone claiming to be from the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions or the Australian Taxation Office.
- The call may sound like it is an automated message with an American accent.
- The caller or sender will claim that you have an arrest warrant for some reason.
- The scammer will ask you to telephone a number that appears to be Australian but is likely to be a VOIP number.
- The scammer will tell you that in order to resolve the matter you will need to pay a fee.
You may also be asked to provide your bank account details or other personal information so they can confirm they have the right person.
If you send any money via wire transfer, you will never see it again - it's nearly impossible to recover money sent this way. You will also never receive the promised rebate or refund. If you provide your bank account details or other personal information, the scammer may use it to commit identity theft or to steal your money.
If you receive a phone call or email out of the blue from someone claiming to be from the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions or Australian Taxation Office telling you about an arrest warrant, hang up.
You can report scams to the ACCC via the SCAMwatch report a scam page or by calling 1300 795 995. Residents are also being encouraged to call 1300 792 958 and place their telephone number on the national Do Not Call register.
