Customers warned of water scammers

BOGUS scammers posing as South East Water employees are using scare tactics to sell water filters worth thousands of dollars to vulnerable Cranbourne residents.
A water filtration company is sending letters to residents in Melbourne’s south-east, wrongly stating that their water may be a health risk following the recent dry spell and bush fires. It offers to analyse their water.
South East Water’s general manager of corporate services Russell Eddington said the company reportedly used powdered tints to falsely indicate the water may be a health risk.
He said the scammers dressed similarly to South East Water staff when door-knocking houses.
Mr Eddington assured South East Water customers that they had nothing to worry about.
“We constantly audit our water quality and only water of a high standard is released from our reserves. If there was any concern whatsoever, South East Water would have notified all residents in affected areas of any potential risk.”
Mr Eddington said South East Water was investigating the matter and would be prepared to take action if necessary.