Scam slammed

By Melissa Meehan
FIRST CAME the letters, then the phone calls and then email.
But it seems the cycle of scams have come back full circle.
Pakenham resident Ron Niddrie has this week received a scam letter, similar to the Nigerian scams, from Spain.
“I knew it was a scam right away,” Mr Niddrie said.
“It was on cheap paper, had words spelt wrong and it didn’t sound right.”
Unusually the letter did not inform Mr Niddrie was a benefactor of a large sum of money from a distant relative, instead it asked Mr Niddrie to pretend to be a living relative of the deceased to have a share in 3,750,000 euros deposited into the bank, and split it with the author.
It asks Mr Niddrie to keep the matter confidential and top secret and asks for no personal details, but instead asks him to call a number or email the author if he was keen to take on the “business proposal”.
“We went down to the police station to show them,” Mr Niddrie said.
“And they said they have seen quite a few lately, but nothing like this one.
“It’s just a worry that older people in the community might be tricked by these people and clean out their bank accounts.”
The News sent Cardinia PSA inspector Chris Major a copy of the letter for comment.
“I have read this letter and it is very similar to Nigerian scams,” Insp Major said.
“Essentially what these letters do is invite you to provide false information in order to receive money usually from an alleged deceased estate or other business that may have gone into liquidation etc in order to receive money.
“If anyone has any concerns about a letter of this type they receive either by mail or over the internet we encourage them to bring the matter to the attention of the local police for advice.”