A major bank is warning all Australians about a new scam that is circulating.
The Bank of Queensland (BOQ) says it is receiving reports of a wave of calls made by scammers posing as undercover police and requesting cash withdrawals to expose a hacker inside ther bank stealing victims’ money.
The scammer claims no money will be lost as it will be re-deposited later.
BOQ says the callers coach their victims into withdrawing cash and give them a cover story – such as stating the money is for overseas travel or medical bills – to quell suspicion from bank officials.
After acquiring the cash, the scammer visits the victim’s address to collect the cash and then disappears.
“We are urging Australians to keep a look out for unexpected phone calls from individuals claiming to be ‘undercover police’ and to not give in to the pressure they often put on their victims to comply with their demands,” said BOQ customer advocate Ben Griffin.
“Trusted organisations like the police will never ask for payment or for members of the public to assist in police operations …
“We are noticing that this scam is particularly targeting older people and those who are most vulnerable, so it’s important to understand what to be on the lookout for. These scammers create layers of information by fabricating scenarios and creating fictious personas to create the illusion of a sophisticated sting operation. Their efforts will even go as far as convincing you to not tell friends, family or even the bank.”
Have you had a call or email from a scammer in recent weeks? Have you become hyper vigilant?
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