Phone scam warning

A phone scam that appears to be targeting older people has seen two victims lose hundreds of dollars in cash. Waitara-based Sergeant Ross Wright, said the scammers, which he believed were based overseas, were calling under the guise they were employed by a major telecommunications company and needed help to nab swindlers. He said the basic premise of the scam was that victims were asked to buy iTunes or Prezzy cards and provide the serial numbers to the caller. If the cards were used subsequently, the victims were told they would get paid a commission. Already this week, the ruse had seen one victim lose $1250, while another was fleeced of $150, Wright said. Police had fielded other complaints and Wright said he believed calls were being made by the scammers on a daily basis. However, he said there was little police could do about it after it had happened. He urged people to be extremely sceptical if they were contacted. ‘‘Don’t agree to anything over the phone,’’ he said. Another tactic Wright suggested was for people to say they would seek advice from family before making any on the spot decision, which could also act as a deterrent for the scammers getting back in touch.