A BANK teller in Warrnambool has spared an elderly woman losing $5000 to a scam.
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Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Mark James, south-west police crime manager, said police were investigating reports of travelling tradesmen running scams across the region.
Detective Acting Senior Sergeant James said a bogus tradesman drove a Warrnambool woman, 83, to a bank to withdraw $5000.
The man told the woman her house urgently required painting and he could do the work, but needed up-front payment.
A Commonwealth Bank teller raised the alarm when the woman attempted to withdraw the cash. She approached the man, who was parked outside.
The man told the teller he would write up a quote and had been liaising with the woman for three weeks.
He was described as being 26 to 28 years old and driving a blue ute with a hard-top cover.
"These people are highly organised international outfits making millions of dollars. They come to Australia during the warmer months, do these scams and rip people off for thousands of dollars," Detective Acting Senior Sergeant James said.
"These are not commercial transactions; they are actual crimes because the work either never gets done or not to a reasonable standards. It's obtaining money by deception and there's been successful criminal prosecutions in the past."
Detective Acting Senior Sergeant James said the scammers targeted vulnerable people, including the elderly.
He said there were a number of red flags people should be aware of.
"They approach residents unsolicited, claim urgent repairs are necessary, want cash up front and will offer to drive people to a bank to get money out," he said.
"All the paint, utes, ladders and work clothes are just props for the deceptions. If people are approached, we would request they immediately contact police.
"We also want people to look out for their elderly neighbors and families to keep an eye on elderly relatives."
Detective Acting Senior Sergeant James said people who noticed suspicious activity should record a description of the people involved and registration plate details of vehicles.
"Use local tradesmen with good reputations, obtain written quotes and never pay for work in advance," Detective Acting Senior Sergeant James said.
More information is available on scamwatch.gov.au or from Consumers Affairs Victoria.
