A Noosaville couple is warning others to be vigilant with their personal details, after $48,000 was stolen from their superannuation account.
The couple said it started with a fake email that looked like it had been sent from Noosa Council earlier this year, claiming to request an update of identification. But it was part of a much more complex fraud.
The couple said the email looked convincing, appropriately formulated and issued in the name of the rates officer, but it was actually a “fishing exercise” aimed at gathering details so an imposter could steal from the husband’s superannuation account.
The fraudster managed to steal $48,000 from the super account, which was deposited into a bank account he had set up in his victim’s name by stealing photos and personal information from the victim’s laptop. The scammer tried to steal another $105,000 but was stopped just in time.
“Unfortunately, my wife and I are almost certainly just one couple among multiple victims of a scheme that looks like it’s run by an international gang using ’mules’ such as our local operator,” the victim said.
“In our case, our worries were compounded by the fact that the fraudster’s activities seem to have stretched beyond just stealing from my superannuation fund and include creating a fake passport in my name, as well as using my wife’s credit card details.”
The victim said the matter was now under investigation and has warned others to be careful with their personal information.
A Noosa Council spokesperson said residents and ratepayers could rest assured their personal information held by council was secure, and that council’s IT systems had not been compromised.
“The recent emails were not sent by council, but scammers impersonating council staff in an effort to solicit personal information from members of the public,” the spokesperson said.
“Residents should be mindful that scammers can impersonate not only government agencies but service providers and other organisations in an effort to obtain personal information.”
If ever in doubt about the authenticity of an email or letter from Noosa Council, residents should phone 5329 6500 to confirm that the correspondence is genuine. Anyone who suspects they may have replied to a scam email should notify their financial institutions immediately.
