Beware: phone scam targets residents

By Jessica Anstice

Scam callers impersonating government officials have shaken a number of Pakenham residents over the past few weeks.

Scammers, claiming to be from government departments including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Home Affairs, have been making unusual and concerning phone calls to mobile phones across the shire.

Pakenham resident Kelly Whittenbury received an incoming call from what appeared to be a legitimate Australian phone number on Friday July 31 and answered it, thinking it was a potential employer.

“An automated message started playing saying ‘your name is being used to conduct illegal activity and there is a warrant out for your arrest’,” she recalled.

“I had a moment of panic until I realised that if there was a warrant out for my arrest, then police would be at my door – not having DHHS calling to inform me.

“I thought I better let people know about it given that even I had that moment of panic, even though I realised quickly – I thought there would be people that wouldn’t realise.”

Community member Narendra Unnikrishnan experienced a similar phone call about 6pm at the beginning of last week.

When he picked up the phone, Mr Unnikrishnan said he heard a voice recording that stated the incoming call was from the Department of Home Affairs.

“They had a voice recording as soon as you answer saying ‘call from Department of Home Affairs’ and ‘there is a criminal offence charged against you’,” he said.

“Then this person came on the line and I asked the guy ‘how do you expect someone to believe you when we know the government departments close at 5pm and you are calling me at 6pm?’ There was a lot of background noise as well.

“Unfortunately they’ll get some elderly and people who are tech challenged.”

Mr Unnikrishnan said he feels that the government “needs to do something about it”.

“They are using Australian phone numbers,” he added.

“The call went very abusive when I didn’t comply with what the person wanted to do. Horrible.”

Pakenham resident Sonia Gallagher said she received a slightly different scam call, however she didn’t answer and the scammer left a very threatening message on her phone.

As the message was in a foreign language, Ms Gallagher decided to run it through a translator.

According to her, the message said “You must gather $25,000 as quickly and quietly as possible. Your family is in danger if you do not listen. Call once you have it together, to arrange collection, and the guaranteed safety of all family members. Those here and in the motherland.”

“If I happened to answer that call – I’d be terrified,” she said.

“My aunt and uncle adopted a boy from China. Even the idea of someone trying to extort that kind of money from them? Breaks my heart.

“People like this really upset me.”

Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale warned residents of the scam phone call going around.

“It is the lowest of the low and absolutely appalling that during a crisis these scammers are taking advantage and ripping people off – wanting to get personal information and plain lying about who they are and who they represent,” she said.

“This is fraud.”