The latest con targeting Griffith residents pretended to be an “e-Account” from energy supplier AGL. The logo and text in the email certainly made it appear legitimate and the amount requested was reasonable, but the address it was sent from was clearly fake.

“These scams are pretty convincing and they can get you in,” Mr Sheehan said. 

“One day I might get caught.”

The fake AGL email is an example of a ‘false billing’ scam and it exploits the victim’s lack of experience and the increase in internet billing. The links to billing information in the email are actually links to harmful ‘malware’ that can steal personal information.

“You’ve got to stay vigilant,” Mr Sheehan said. “The first thing I look at is the email address it comes from.”

Chief Inspector John Wadsworth from Griffith Local Area Command said email and phone scams were a threat that police took very seriously.

“We’ve seen too many victims of this kind of thing and too often it’s the ones who can’t afford it that are targeted,” he said. “Seek advice about anything asking for your money, especially if it involves Western Union. The key is if you’re unsure, just ask.”

Anyone worried about an email should contact the company concerned directly, Chief Inspector Wadsworth said, by looking up their contact details in the phone book.

“Don’t reply to the email or trust the number in it,” he said. “If you’re still unsure make as many enquiries as you can, ask a friend or relative or even come in and ask at the police station.”

AGL has issued a statement confirming it will never send an email asking for personal banking or financial details and has no evidence that customer information has been compromised.

“AGL has reported the scam email to the Scamwatch, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Federal Police,” it said.

Mr Sheehan said in this day and age, it was better to be safe than sorry.

“If I got an email from a company saying I owed them money I’d be very wary and I’d call and ask why,” he said. “You have to investigate first. If you get something that you’re not sure of, just delete it.”