Warning on bogus house callers

By Rebecca Fraser
A PERSON pretending to represent Casey council has been doorknocking in Narre Warren, trying to solicit personal information from elderly residents.
The incident follows last week’s warning from council that residents should be wary of bogus telephone callers claiming to represent the City of Casey.
A Narre Warren North resident house sitting in Narre Warren with her sisterinlaw said a man came to the door last Friday night claiming to be a council officer.
The woman, who does not wish to be named for fear of retaliation, said she thought it was “odd” that a council officer would door knock late in the evening and ask personal questions.
She said her sisterinlaw had answered the door, but when she also went to the front door the man left abruptly.
“It was around 7pm and was already dark outside,” she said.
“The man wanted to know what my sisterinlaw thought of the water quality but when I came to the door and stood behind her he quickly turned around and went.
“I had read the recent warning about the bogus callers and straight away I thought this does not seem right.”
The woman said one of her friends, who lived nearby, had also had a similar experience recently.
“Another lady I know had the same thing happen when someone claiming to be from Casey council came to the door and asked whether she was rich, poor or medium,” she said.
“She told him to go away so he left.”
The City of Casey’s community safety manager, Brendan Fitzsimmons, said people should be wary of people contacting them in person.
“Anyone from council will have photo identification that identifies them and their role clearly,” he said.
“If they are just wearing a badge, they are not us.
“If people come across someone and they are not satisfied they are from council or who they say they are, then they should try to get their registration number or something to tie them to, such as recording the particulars on the identification they present.”
Mr Fitzsimmons said these people were acting in a fraudulent manner and were misrepresenting council.
“Anyone who says they are from the City of Casey but does not have identification should be reported to the Narre Warren police on 9705 3111 or Cranbourne police on 5995 4681,” he said.