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In the wake of disaster, scammers strike

Tory Shepherd

by Tory Shepherd

13 Jan 11:00am

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Filed under: Disaster, Donations, Floods, Queensland Floods, Scams

19 comments

Extreme situations bring out extreme behaviour.

Even before these waters recede, people are taking advantage. Pic: Brad Hunter

So far we have seen heroism, desperation, and stoicism. Grief and relief.

And now we’re seeing the lowest of the low – scammers pretending to be collecting money for flood victims.

The SES and Major-General Mick Slater, the man in charge of Queensland’s recovery, says these people are phoning and asking for donations.  And, Australians being generous in times like this, they’re giving to these bastards.

You name the crisis, there will be unscrupulous individuals sneaking in to take advantage.

It’s so predictable that SCAMwatch warned in advance that it might happen, based on similar outrages during the 2009 Victorian bushfires.

The Office of Fair Trading is also warning about dodgy traders peddling shoddy work in the wake of the devastating floods.

So watch out, wherever you are.  Check for ID before giving – and remember that the SES is not cold calling for donations.

If someone approaches you, take their details down. Snap a pic. Dob them in.

And if you want to donate, go through reputable channels.

For more details on avoiding getting scammed and donating safely check out Scamwatch.

Most commented

19 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • AliceC says:

      11:27am | 13/01/11

      What goes around comes around scammers!!!!

      Reply

    • Jarryd says:

      12:04pm | 13/01/11

      Unfortunately that’s not always the case :(

    • Ryan says:

      02:13pm | 13/01/11

      Tell that to Bono and Geldoff.

    • Daylight robbery says:

      05:25pm | 16/01/11

      Unfortunately like NSW and Vic the report on the ABC news of fake tradies wouldn’t happen.  You have to have a licence identification to operate in those states.

      Because QLD doesn’t have trade identification cards or licenses for some trades QLD is open to abuse from people pretending to be tradesman they are not robbing people of their money by taking deposits and running?

      Before handing over money, drivers licence please?  Even then a receipt of deposit?

      WA is in the same position I believe?  No registration required to carry out work on peoples homes?

    • Daniel says:

      11:46am | 13/01/11

      Karma will come back and get these creeps. They really have some balls dont they?

      Reply

    • Rossco says:

      11:49am | 13/01/11

      Scumbags, I cant undertand how people like these operate, absolute depths of humanity.

      Reply

    • Scarneck says:

      11:57am | 13/01/11

      First the looters now these scum bags….as one of the mayors said “turn them into flood markers” - These type of scum are not true blue Aussies.

      Reply

    • malohi says:

      02:08pm | 13/01/11

      True blue Aussies, that saying makes me cringe, the term has lost all respectability. The irony is that many people who spout that saying worship Ned Kelly as some kind of hero, when he was a thieving criminal just like the looters. I mean that is the Aussie spirit, up yours to the law, the larrikan out for the good time even at the expense of others.. How many “patriots” with southern cross tattoos will help rebuild Brisbane.. “true blue”, give me a break.

    • Malik says:

      12:14pm | 13/01/11

      Don’t trust anyone with an Irish or Romanian accent.

      Reply

    • Tony of Poorakistan says:

      01:06pm | 13/01/11

      Looters should be shot. Anyone protecting their property against a looter should be immune from prosecution.

      Reply

    • ZSRenn says:

      01:29pm | 13/01/11

      After the Darwin Cyclone there was a call from the Australian Government for Australians to open their doors to the people of Darwin.

      My father being the humanitarian ,50 year Lions Club member and great Australian that he is opened his doors.

      We owned a motel at the time and took in a family of 4. He gave up two rooms of the motel to this family despite the income loss.

      Turns out they were from Victoria and were no where near the cyclone. They were however homeless and poor. Rather than turn them over to the police for fraud he gave them two weeks to find somewhere and move.

      “Desperate people take desperate measures”  he said to me

      Reply

    • Richard M says:

      02:09pm | 13/01/11

      Scammers are indeed the lowest of the low.  Only slightly above that level are those who write articles in the midst of a natural disaster seeking to lay blame, eh Ms Shepherd?

      Reply
    • Tory Shepherd

      Tory Shepherd says:

      02:31pm | 13/01/11

      Whatever you reckon, Richard!

    • Darryl Price says:

      02:47pm | 13/01/11

      “Seeking to lay blame” Non sequitur of the year…

    • Kelly says:

      03:07pm | 13/01/11

      Keeping us informed? Yeah the bastards. Come on mate, don’t add to the ugliness of the situation

    • TimB says:

      03:17pm | 13/01/11

      Richard, seeking to lay blame for what exactly?

      I don’t see anything like that in the article.

    • Richard M says:

      03:42pm | 13/01/11

      Tim B - Please see earlier article by Tory Shepherd

    • kerrie o'rourke says:

      06:01pm | 13/01/11

      Your comment:
      scammers see everything as economic exploitation opportunities.
      scammers believe people are just things to be exploited.
      only economic wealth matters to scammers.
      scammers see the world news and the world as something you can exploit.
      They feel nothing for anyone or anyone as that is weakness to them.
      its just a freezing cold world for them.emotion is to be exploited.

      Reply

    • psyco-corporation says:

      05:30pm | 16/01/11

      {its just a freezing cold world for them.emotion is to be exploited.}

      Theyre feeding on the commoners?

      Reply
 
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drpiotrowski 25 May 13 12:59PM

RT @adamroy37: Just received a phone call from a young girl apologizing for her actions. Lets support her please #racismitstopswithme#Indi…

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_Tors 25 May 13 12:42PM

RT @adamroy37: Just received a phone call from a young girl apologizing for her actions. Lets support her please #racismitstopswithme#Indi…

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