Castlemaine Police are being praised for their efforts to apprehend a scammer before he allegedly tried to fleece an elderly woman of $10,000 on Sunday morning.
It is alleged the man was attending the woman’s home in Lawrence Park Drive to collect the cash on 16 November.
The man allegedly told the woman he was collecting tax money in relation to cryptocurrency.
Unbeknownst to the man, a family member identified that the woman in her 80’s was being scammed and told local police that he was coming to retrieve the money.
Police attended the property and caught the man in the act before taking him into custody.
It was revealed that the man had already allegedly scammed the woman out of $40,000.
“We want to remind residents that scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and its more important for the community to stay alert. Being aware of scams is essential in protecting your personal and financial information,” said Sergeant Debra Graham.
“Scammers often use emails, text messages and phone calls that appear legitimate, so it’s important to take a moment to verify anything that seems unusual. Never provide personal details unless you are sure the request is genuine and avoid clicking on unknown links.
“To protect yourself always take a moment to double check unexpected messages especially those that create urgency, ask for payment or request personal information. Legitimate organisations will never ask for sensitive details through unsecured channels.
“If you are unsure seek advice from your family, friends or Police. If something feels ‘off’ trust your instincts. Staying informed and cautions helps keep our community safe and more confident online,” she said.
Police say the 52-year-old Skye man will be charged on summons and the investigation remains ongoing.
Information about crime prevention, resources, reporting and increasing your safety is available at police.vic.gov.au/your-safety.
