Issue Date:  -  Friday, 21 June 2002

New scams intercepted by Government's ScamNet

Department of Consumer and Employment Protection scam profilers are blowing the whistle on the latest five scams to hit Western Australia.

“Unscrupulous operators whose sole aim is to swindle people out of their money are scourges of the community. By using our online electronic magazine FairBytes and with valuable assistance from the media, we are able to send wide reaching warnings to consumers and businesses”, Consumer Protection Commissioner Patrick Walker said.

The Commissioner warns of the following offers that have been the most prolific in the past month and further warns recipients not to send them any money, but send the material to Consumer Protection instead:

Master Charli Chang’s Dragon Egg Miracle Maker
Send $91 to find out how to obtain success and fortune

Centre International de Gains of Switzerland
Send $55 to obtain a prize of $17,000

Transglobal Commercial Services
Send $49-95 to get a Volvo V70

Paul Collins Chain Letter
Offers $200,000 for working at home - participating could get a fine of $20,000

Ugandan Orphan Donations
Asks for $US896 to bring relief to Ugandan orphans

“Anyone who sends money to these people should be prepared to lose it as they are unlikely to see anything of value in return. We are anxious to receive copies of any offers that could be scams to further our fight against mail and online swindles”, Commissioner Walker said.

Scams Hotline: 1300 30 40 54 (cost of a local call state-wide)
Send Scams To: WAScamNet, Reply Paid 64772
Locked Bag 14, Cloister Square, Perth, 6850
(NO POSTAGE REQUIRED)
Fax Scams To: 9282 0862
Email Scams To: wascamnet@docep.wa.gov.au

Get Free Monthly Scam Alerts by Emailing: subscribe@docep.wa.gov.au

WAScamNet is an initiative of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection that receives suspicious offers and deals from members of the public, and then profiles the material to produce regular community warnings designed to put scam artists out of business by blocking their supply of victims.

Since its inception in April this year, WAScamNet has received over one thousand items, (236 in June alone to date) referred by consumers and has taken over five hundred telephone calls relating to scams.