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Heartless scammers trying to rip off people with a disability are exploiting a flawed system, according to a disability support advocate.
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The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) warned scammers were targeting people with a disability, including people in the Riverina, demanding bank account details and threatening them with prison if they did not co-operate.
As the mother of a young woman with autism, Mrs Bewick said anyone who tried to exploit vulnerable people had “absolutely no compassion at all”.
“It was elderly people a couple of months ago and now it’s us,” Mrs Bewick said.
“They’re always looking for any vulnerability they can exploit.”
The July 1 roll out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in the Riverina presented a major challenge to people with a disability, carers and service providers. While it was widely accepted as an upgrade to disability support services, Mrs Bewick said the process involved getting a call out of the blue from someone asking for personal information.
“They’re doing the things you’re always warned about,” Mrs Bewick said.
“They call up and ask you for detailed information, the first time I got an email from them I actually backed up my computer before I even opened it.
“But through it all, talking to the local area co-ordinator, working through the plan, they didn’t ask for my bank account details.”
Mathew Bertram from disability support organisation Kurrajong said the scam calls were “a pretty low act”.
“This is yet another case where scammers are trying to exploit vulnerable people in what is may already be a confusing time,” he said.
“The NDIA will never request bank account details over the phone and it’s important for people to be cautious of any calls requesting personal or private information.”
NDIA chief David Bowen said people should always check the credentials of the caller.
“It’s a criminal act to try and defraud NDIS participants of their funding,” Mr Bowen said.
“If you are in any doubt about the identity of your caller or their purpose, ask for their name and number and then call the NDIA on 1800 800 110.”
Visit www.ndis.gov.au to find out more about the NDIA’s procedures and how it handles personal information.
Stephen Mudd
Stephen Mudd is a journalist for Fairfax Media west of the great divide. He loves music, dogs and travel.
Stephen Mudd is a journalist for Fairfax Media west of the great divide. He loves music, dogs and travel.
