Chris Pearce has today warned against responding to an email that seeks to trick people into handing over their bank account details.
“A hoax email currently being distributed states that ‘All Australian Banks will be closed… within one week'. This claim is fraudulent and should not be believed” said Mr Pearce.
The email, like others that are distributed from time to time, apparently comes from a well known Australian business - News.com.au.
“From somewhere in the world scammers are targeting people using a well known Australian based website in an attempt to fleece peoples' hard earned money.”
“I have no doubt that News Limited did not send this email - it is a scam! Australians should not respond to this fraudulent request, they should delete it”, said Mr Pearce.
“Australian banks and other Australian deposit-taking institutions are subject to a world-class system of prudential regulation, which is administered by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.
“Crimes involving fraud cost Australians millions of dollars each year. The best protection against scams – they come in various forms - is to hit the delete key, hang-up the phone or throw the letter in the bin”.
Australian agencies, including the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Australian Securities and Investments Commission, receive thousands of complaints and calls for help each year regarding scams received by mail, telephone and email.
Email based scams can be reported on 1300 795 995 or through the Scamwatch website: www.scamwatch.gov.au
12 September 2006
MELBOURNE
Media contact: Gillian Harvey 03 9887 3890 or 0411 567 060