By JESSE GRAHAM
A MILLGROVE man will face court next year after being arrested for numerous deception charges, linked to an interstate phone scam.
Yarra Ranges Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) Detective Senior Constable Rod Newbery said police executed a search warrant at a Millgrove property on 13 October and arrested a 43-year-old Millgrove man.
Det Sen Const Newbery said police believe the man was part of a syndicate who called elderly people pretending to be from Centrelink and asking for bank details.
“They set up fake internet banking accounts and basically siphoned money out of the account until the old person becomes aware of it,” he said.
He said the syndicate was operating interstate, and that the man was charged with “many” counts of deception and bailed to appear at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court next year – with further charges to come.
Det Sen Const Newbery said that anyone who believed they may have been contacted by the syndicate, or who may have given out their bank details over the phone, should contact Yarra Ranges CIU on 9739 2300.
He warned elderly residents to be wary of people calling and asking for bank details, and said not to give out details over the phone and to contact Centrelink if suspicious about a caller.
“It may be pretty legitimate,” Det Sen Const Newbery said.
“If you think they are suspect, call Centrelink back and ask if they’ve asked to contact you.
“It’s the same as any sort of scam – if they’re asking for banking details, it’s probably something wrong.”
