Police warn of scams

By Adair Winder

May 5, 2022

Be wary: Inspector Paul Huggett of the Murray River Police District warns of scams that ask people to hand over their personal information. Photo by Cath Grey

Echuca Moama police are warning of scams via text messages and phone calls that urge people to hand over their personal information.

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Inspector Paul Huggett of the Murray River Police District said that as tax season approaches, residents can expect to see some of the usual scams re-circulating.

“No banking institution, no law enforcement agency or any other agency will ever text you to say that you have overdue tax or that there is a warrant out for your arrest. That is not the way any official institution would get into contact with you,” Insp Huggett said.

Police are encouraging people to test the person communicating with them by calling your bank, your tax office, local police station or whatever institution the person is purporting to be from, to confirm with them that the call or text message is legitimate.

“Terminate the call and take the evidence test by calling the institution they are claiming to be with,” Insp Huggett said.

He also highlighted the importance of not revealing any of your personal information over the phone.

“People who are older or are vulnerable are still being targeted by these scams, so it is important that we treat these messages and phone calls as suspicious until proven otherwise,” Insp Huggett said.

By Adair Winder