Geelong residents are being targeted by scammers claiming to be conducting a lifestyle survey for the City of Greater Geelong.
The council has issued an alert after being contacted by locals who have been contacted by con merchants, who claim to be working for or on behalf of the city.
The council says the callers then ask for private information, including income an dhome ownership details.
In a warning posted online, the City of Greater Geelong says it is not conducting any surveys of that nature.
It added that any surveys run by the city will come from a landline number.
Four reasons not to engage with scammers
- When you engage with a scammer – even if it’s just to give them a piece of your mind or blow a whistle in their ear – you have let them know they have called a working number AND that you will answer it. This information can be added to a data bank and used to gradually build a profile.
- When you tell them not to call you, you may be inadvertantly giving them more information – for example, “I’m at work” or “stop calling me at home” or “how did you get my home number?”
- Anything they ask you – anything – can provide them with more details for their database. When they say “I’m calling about your loan with the Bank of blah-blah” your response can indicate if you have an account with that bank or, if you don’t, allow them to tick it off their list. Everything you say, and much of what you don’t say, can help them build on your…
