However for the older generations in the MIA, this changing new world of technology can be foreign, and iTunes gift cards could seem like the ‘new thing’ organisations and businesses are using now.

Inspector Nick Seddon, in the video below, explains the importance of keeping in touch – the younger generations with the old, and the old with the new – about what is and isn’t a scam.

“[Scams] can add up to a lot of money, a lot of embarrassment and a lot of social isolation.”

“There’s been a lot in the newspapers and media of late and I wanted to readdress these with you and talk about how to prevent them, and more importantly how we can assist people who don’t have much tech savvy,” he said.

“Knowledge of the internet and what’s going on in that wide world and how we can protect them and maybe involve them to become more aware of what’s going on.

“We often talk about scams in relation to romance scams and they are still going on in our community as well… obviously people out there are looking for companionship, and that’s fair enough, but as soon as people start asking for money in any way, shape or form, alarm bells should be ringing.

“If we broke down some barriers here and talk to our family about what’s going on in our romance world and with our love life, if you have any issues or any inclining of something going wrong, you should really talk to someone a bit younger or a bit more savvy about what’s going on, and maybe come and talk to a policeman or a policewomen and we can help you out.”

Inspector Seddon says he has seen an increase in people reporting threats of unpaid tax or utilities bills in the MIA, and says police will never arrest you for not paying these kinds of things.

“Alarm bells should be ringing for you if you get these sorts of phone calls.”

“Get details off this person and verify their details directly with the company they report to be from, so ring up the ATO, ring up your electricity company or whoever they’re from and speak to them directly and make sure you get that phone number from the legitimate source.”

As Griffith and the wider MIA has a lot of migrants settling in the area, they have also been targeted by scammers claiming they are breaching their visa.

“We often find people getting caught up by the so-called Immigration Department and talking about their visas and the fact that their visas may be coming to the end or expiring and demanding money,” he said.

RELATED:

“If your visa’s running out the Immigration Department may contact you – but they won’t demand money.”

He notes that he is speaking to people on the internet, and says you have a responsibility to those you know who don’t.

“Your job is to go and speak to your mum, speak to the older members in your community, maybe your newly arrived friends in your community and tell them that these things happen and offer your assistance, educate them a little bit so that they don’t become victims of these crimes.”

For more information on scams, click here.