SES raffle ticket call is a scam
THE Victoria State Emergency Service has warned people to be wary of unsolicited callers purporting to be from the organisation.
It comes after a Lysterfield woman almost fell victim to the scam on Tuesday.
Ann Naylor said she believed the call, purporting to be raising money for the SES, was timed to coincide with today’s extreme heat.
She said she got the call about 9.20am, from a man who called himself Tom.
“He sounded very friendly and while I could not hear all he was saying, I said I would be happy to make a donation and would do so via the SES website,” Ms Naylor said.
“At this suggestion, he was rather persistent that he send me something and mentioned raffle tickets, which appeared to be a lead-up question to get my address details.
“He was also persistent in wanting me to go to the post office for some reason and seemed a bit surprised and happy when I said I would do that.”
She said she “just wanted him off the line”.
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“While I was taken in for the request for a donation, I repeated that I would make a donation online and left it at that,” she said.
Ms Naylor said the man rang from a NSW number, which she found suspicious.
She then contacted Scamwatch and then phoned the SES, who told her they were aware of similar incidents.
Ms Naylor said she would now donate money to the SES via cheque, and encouraged others to do the same.
VICSES chief executive Stephen Griffin said the organisation didn’t seek donations by phone.
He said the organisation was investigating after it became aware last week that people had been phoned and asked to buy raffle tickets.
“VICSES is not conducting any raffles,” Mr Griffin said.
He said volunteers wore full uniform and carried photo identification when collecting donations, and if people wanted to donate, “the best bet is to contact your local unit directly”.
“Whenever anyone asks for donations on our behalf, always check their credentials,” he said.
To find your local SES unit, go to ses.vic.gov.au