Australia`s federal watchdog has warned of a scam that impersonates the Defense Department to borrow money from wealthy Australians.
Federal police said the scammers disguised themselves as Department of Defense personnel via e-mail and phone calls, pretending to borrow a large sum of money on behalf of Australia`s government from targets in an effort to rescue kidnapped Australian diplomats.
The fraud claims that Australia`s government policy does not allow ransom to be paid to the kidnappers, which is why the Defense Department has to borrow money and the Treasury will be responsible for reimbursing the money. The cheater will send details of the remittance to the target by e-mail.
The federal police have confirmed that it was a hoax orchestrated by illegal criminal organizations abroad. They are using public information to target rich Australians for fraud.
Police urge anyone who receives such e-mail or phone calls not to engage in any form of contact with the swindler, and immediately contact the agency that monitors the fraud at www.scamwatch.gov.au.
