Scammers using Adelaide Hills photo business as a front
Mark Duncan's business has been caught up in an online scam
An Adelaide Hills photographer has been caught up in an elaborate online hoax where scammers use his business as a front as they try to dupe people out of money.
Photographer Mark Duncan’s company Focus School Portraits has been framed in the elaborate scam since yesterday, leaving his work phone ringing off the hook.
Fake Paypal receipts for photos never purchased from his company have been popping up in hundreds of inboxes.
“Some people directly blame us for it, thinking we’re the ones that are trying to take the money from their account and that’s pretty concerning,” Mr Duncan said.
People have been affected across the country.
“Perth, Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, places in Adelaide, everywhere, Melbourne, all of country Victoria, just gone everywhere,” Mr Duncan said.
A link is provided to cancel the payment, but that is when the scammers strike – taking the username and password from unsuspecting victims.
It remains unclear how much money has been scammed.
“It is so close to the normal Paypal advice it’s scary,” Mr Duncan said.
Dini Soulio from Consumer and Business Affairs said scammers were becoming very inventive and were even making fake websites that look like the real thing.
He had this advice for people.
“If you’re not sure what the email’s about, delete it, it’s not worth taking the risk to click on a link you’re not sure about,” Mr Soulio said.
