SCAMwatch email alert: SCAMwatch email alert [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Protect your retirement savings from investment scammers

View Radar Online

Added: July 2012

SCAMwatch and the Australian Crime Commission Board are urging Australians to protect themselves from the growing threat of investment scams. Investment scammers are commonly based offshore and target Australia because of high levels of superannuation and retirement savings.

How the scam works

• You receive a call, email or letter out of the blue from someone offering an investment opportunity overseas.
• The scammer applies persuasive techniques to identify your financial status and encourages you to transfer money into sham investments.
• The scammer may encourage you to check that the investment offer is legitimate. If you research the offer, the scammer may have gone to elaborate lengths to trick you including:
  - manipulating search data
  - creating professional looking, but fake websites and publications
  - issuing online press releases that make false claims of outstanding corporate performance.
• In some instances, the scammer may even provide you with a log-in to view fake investment balances and growing returns. In reality, your money is gone.
• If you engage with the scammer, they may apply even greater pressure such as calling you multiple times a day, using tailored scripts and delivering professional looking documents via courier – all to try and get you to part with more of your money.
• The scammer will likely ask you to transfer the money electronically to an overseas-based account. It is rare to recover money sent to scammers.

SCAMwatch urges you to be on alert: These scams are incredibly sophisticated and very difficult for even experienced investors to identify.

Protect yourself

• Visit www.moneysmart.gov.au or call 1300 300 630 for more information. Moneysmart also has a list of companies you should not deal with - if you receive a call from a company on this list, do not deal with them. 
• Watch out for scammers if you are approaching retirement and looking for investment opportunities.
• Alert your family and friends to this fraud, especially anyone who may have savings to invest.
• Report suspected fraud to the Australian Securities Investment Commission, via www.moneysmart.gov.au or 1300 300 630, or your local police.
• Hang up on unsolicited telephone calls offering overseas investments. 
• Check any company you are discussing investments with has a valid Australian Financial Services Licence at www.moneysmart.gov.au.
• Always seek independent financial advice before making an investment.

Report

You can report suspected fraud to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, via www.moneysmart.gov.au or 1300 300 630, or your local police. Any information that can be provided such as company name, location and contact details will assist with subsequent investigations and enquiries.

More information

To tackle this growing threat, the Australian Crime Commission Board established a multi-agency task force that aims to disrupt fraudulent serious and organised investment scams and harden the Australian environment against this type of organised criminality. Find out more at the Australian Crime Commission website.

Stay one step ahead of scammers – follow @SCAMwatch_gov on Twitter or visit http://twitter.com/SCAMwatch_gov.

You have received this email because you have subscribed to receive SCAMwatch radar alerts on scams targeting Australians. These alerts are issued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and can be viewed on its SCAMwatch website www.scamwatch.gov.au.

If you have any doubts about an email's source, verify the sender by independent means - use their official contact details to check the email is legitimate before clicking on links or opening attachemnts.

If you no longer want to receive SCAMwatch email alerts, please unsubscribe on the SCAMwatch website.

 

SCAMwatch email alert: Beware of “voucherprize” scam text messages [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Beware of "voucher prize" scam text messages

View radar online.

Added: June 2012

SCAMwatch is warning consumers not to respond to text messages which claim you have won a voucher, when in fact you are entering into an expensive mobile premium SMS service.

How this scams works

• You may receive a text message from an unknown number congratulating you on winning a voucher from a competition you supposedly entered into.
• This scam uses (without authority) brand names and logos of well-known companies and products in order to make the prize look legitimate. The voucher is for a high dollar value, which makes it especially attractive.
• You will be provided with a code to enter into a website to claim your voucher. Once the code is entered the website link will redirect you to another website confirming your win.
• On the second website you will be requested to enter your mobile number. It has been reported that if you enter your number you may be subscribed to a mobile premium service (mps).
• Mps can be activated by typing your mobile phone number into a website resulting in you receiving an expensive phone bill you didn't expect.
• Similar scams are perpetrated via email with links to online scam surveys.

Protect yourself

• Never give your mobile phone details in response to an unsolicited SMS.
• Never enter your mobile phone number into a website unless you are certain that the website is genuine. Never enter details into a website which you visited by clicking on a link in an SMS.
• Never respond "Ok" or in the affirmative to SMS messages you receive out of the blue and have no knowledge of. Responding to these messages could subscribe you to further expensive competition and prize alerts.
• If in doubt about the authenticity of an SMS, always contact the business or service provider to verify that the request is genuine.
• Never rely on contact details provided in an SMS. Instead, find genuine contact details independently from an authentic source.
• Be very wary when filling in online surveys. Scammers commonly use these surveys to steal your valuable personal information.

Report

You can report scams to the ACCC via the report a scam page on SCAMwatch or by calling 1300 795 995.

More information

Visit the Australian Communication and Media Authority's mobile premium services – information for consumers web page.

Stay one step ahead of scammers, follow @SCAMwatch_gov on Twitter or visit http://twitter.com/#!/SCAMwatch_gov

JB Hi Fi have also issued a warning about this type of scam via their twitter account
______________________________________________________________

If you no longer want to receive SCAMwatch email alerts, please unsubscribe on the SCAMwatch website.

SCAMwatch email alert: Update - Beware of carbon price scams [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Update - Beware of carbon price scams

View radar online

Added: June 2012

SCAMwatch is warning consumers and businesses to be on the look out for carbon price scams, particularly calls asking for personal information in order to receive compensation.

How these scams work

Carbon price scams may come in a number of forms, targeting consumers and businesses:

• Beware of phone calls seeking your personal banking details to pay carbon 'tax' compensation into your bank account. These are likely to be scam calls;
• Scammers may set up fake websites which look very similar to official Australian Government websites. The sites may ask you to enter your personal or financial details, or offer to sell you fake carbon credits;
• Scammers may also make telephone calls posing as government officers, asking for your personal information (such as banking details or identification numbers) in order to claim household assistance from the government.

Protect yourself

• The Australian Government will never call you to ask for your bank account details or to offer you carbon price compensation. Government services are never paid via wire transfer.
• The Australian Government website www.australia.gov.au is a safe portal for finding government services.
• Be alert to scam telephone calls which ask for personal, business or financial details. Hang up immediately if you receive a phone call out of the blue:
• asking for your bank account or personal details;
• claiming you need to pay or transfer money, or provide your banking details, to receive a compensation payment or tax payment;
• asking for personal details, such as your Department of Veterans Affairs/DVA client number or other identification or
• offering to sell you carbon credits or permits for a carbon pricing mechanism or emissions trading scheme.

Scam telephone calls & letters

• Never provide or confirm your personal or business details over the phone (including banking details or identification numbers) unless you made the call using contact details you found yourself and you trust the information.
• If you think that a call might be a scam hang up and check by using official contact details which you have found independently. Never use phone numbers, email addresses or websites provided by the caller.
• If you receive a phone call or letter asking for personal information such as your DVA client number or banking details, do not answer straight away. Contact your nearest DVA office on 133 254 or 1800 555 254 from regional Australia to confirm the source is legitimate.

Scam websites

• Never enter your credit card or banking details on a website unless you have checked it is authentic and secure. Legitimate websites which ask you to enter sensitive personal or business details are commonly encrypted to protect your details.
• This is usually identified by the use of "https:" rather than "http:" at the start of the internet address.
• This can also be identified by a closed or unbroken key or padlock icon at the bottom right corner of your browser window.
• If the 's' is missing or there is an open padlock or broken key icon, your information may not be secure and the website could be a scam site.

If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer

• Contact your bank or financial institution immediately.

Businesses

• Make sure you only deal with people you know and trust. Avoid having a large number of staff authorised to make orders or pay invoices. This will reduce the risk of your business paying for something that it is not required or is not legitimate.

Report

You can report scams to the ACCC via the report a scam page on SCAMwatch or by calling 1300 795 995.

More information

Stay one step ahead of scammers, follow @SCAMwatch_gov on Twitter or visit http://twitter.com/SCAMwatch_gov

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you no longer want to receive SCAMwatch email alerts, please unsubscribe on the SCAMwatch website.

Hyundai is absolutely disgraceful

Secret cameras. Secret video. Secret audio.

Spying on unsuspecting individuals and couples.

If you want to protect your privacy, NEVER EVER take a test drive in any Hyundai vehicle on offer at any dealer.

You never know when they will be spying on YOU.

Woolworths in consumer debit card ripoff



Woolworths - the
Fresh Ripoff People!



On 29 April 2012, the Woolworths Group made a decision to not allow Debit cardholders to press "credit" on EFTPOS terminals when purchasing in their stores.

Debit cardholders must select "Cheque" or "Savings" and use a PIN when shopping at stores that form part of the Woolworths Group.

Consumers should be free to choose how they use their debit cards at point of sale, however this decision was entirely made by Woolworths and has nothing to do with individual card issuers..

By pressing "Cheque" or "Savings", this may incur a transaction fee which otherwise would not have been incurred by pressing "Credit".

Some banks provide monthly rebates to absorb fees up to the rebate amount.

A Credit Card account does not have the same restriction at Woolworths Group stores which Debit cards do, meaning consumers can still select "Credit" when using a Credit Card.

There is further information on the Woolworths website regarding Debit Cards.

This whole change is a gigantic ripoff by Woolworths - The Fresh Ripoff People!

Fraud Warning: Queensland Police warn of tax refund scam

Queensland Police are warning residents about a new scam that sees emails arrive in Australian Taxation Office (ATO) livery, complete with promise of a refund.

Queensland Police advise the email’s subject line is’ Subject: ID: 46 – Tax Refund Notice !’ and that the scam unfurls as follows:

The email advises the recipient to wait 6-9 working days for their “refund” to be received and they are directed to click on a link which appears to start as a genuine “ato.gov.au” email address, but on closer inspection contains a “@hotmail.com” address within the link. 

The fraudsters tell the recipient they will record their IP address, date and time and threaten that deliberate wrong inputs are criminally pursued and persecuted. When directed to the website recipients are confronted with an authentic looking web page and are required to enter an array of identity details, credit card number, credit card estimated credit card balance and amongst other things to upload a scan of their driver’s license.

The mail is, of course, a scam and no refund will be forthcoming. Instead, identity theft and unwanted credit card purchases await those who fall into this trap.

Detective Superintendent Brian Hay of the State Crime Operations Command’s Fraud and Corporate Crime Group says “While fake emails like the ATO scam email are nothing new, people are still falling victim to it each day. This is very much a concern to us.”

New bookstore opens at Orion Springfield Central but will the accidents continue?

Allbooks4less at
Orion Springfield Central

Allbooks4less.com.au is due to open in four days at Orion Springfield Central.

But the new owner could be in for a shock when the summer storms set in, making the footpath outside the store as slippery as glass.

The former store was Mary Ryans Books whose owner often had people, including elderly folk, slipping and sliding and injuring themselves when the pavement got wet.

They sought comfort and first aid inside the store, thinking they were responsible for the footpath.

Pleas to Centre Management to fix this dangerous footpath have gone unheeded.

Centre management seems keener on issuing eviction notices than solving serious public safety issues.

The owner of Mary Ryans was unceremoniously locked out of her store and her leased terminated by Mirvac in what some describe as a complete act of commercial bastardry.

Whether or not that is true will be fought out in the courts.

Up to five separate legal actions are planned in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal by lawyers acting for disgruntled tenants at Orion.

These will be a major focus of attention in the media and are likely to be a total embarrassment for Mirvac whatever the outcome.

Issues regarding broken air conditioning, unfulfilled promises and lease breaches will no doubt be aired with more dirty linen than a Chinese laundry.

Mirvac plays legal issues very hard and sometimes loses sight of winning the PR race instead concentrating on winning the bragging rights over legal actions.

Orion at Springfield Central is fast gaining a reputation as the unhappiest shipping centre in Queensland with tenants in fear and frightened to speak out.

Maybe Mirvac's next great idea will be to introduce paid parking into the centre if they think rail commuters at the nearby planned railway station are taking up too many precious car parks.

Meanwhile, if you are walking down Main St Springfield Central in the rain, you would be well-advised to avoid the Allbooks4less.com.au storefront if you are not planning an emergency trip to the Ipswich Hospital or the PA.

27.5.12

Apple News: Rumours of iPad mini return

Could Apple be working on a device with a 5-inch or 7-inch screen?

This question continues to get stirred up with other speculation, like the leaves at the bottom of a tea cup - and everyone tries to read them.

In today's edition of "As the Apple Turns", momentum appears to be coming out of China with stories attributed to "reliable sources" about the company developing Retina display screens for a smaller tablet.

Macotakara is reporting that 2013 is the year of the pocket-sized tablet and feature resolution of 1600 by 960 pixels or 1280 by 960 pixels.

And Eric Jou of Kotaku wrote that Chinese site NetEase is claiming a mini iPad would be released in the third quarter of this year to combat a potential debut of a Windows tablet. The report, which appears in Chinese, puts the cost of these devices under $US300, according to Jou.

Talk of both smaller and bigger screens pops up almost weekly. Earlier this month, reports from Korea Times and Venture Beat highlighted the possibility of a smaller screen. And last week, an analyst note started a flurry of speculation about the next iPhone screen growing a smidge to 4 inches.

The genesis of the 7-inch iPad appears to have come from an iLounge report in 2009, citing an anonymous source. Apple had created several versions of the iPad, including a 7-inch model that was dismissed as being too small, according to the iLounge report. (Wired does a good job of tracking the rumour from birth to maturity.)

Apple respectfully declined to comment on rumors.

The current iPad, aka "new iPad", features a 9.5-inch display with 2048-by-1536-pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch.

And with Apple apparently going through a renaming renaissance, one is left to wonder: would a tablet with a smaller screen be an iPad mini along the lines of the Mac Mini, or would it be an iPad Nano like the watch-sized iPod? Or maybe it'd be an iPhone Maxi.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/

SCAMwatch email alert: Beware of directory listing scams targeting small businesses [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Beware of directory listing scams targeting small businesses

View radar online.

Added: April 2012

SCAMwatch is advising businesses to beware of unsolicited faxes offering paid listings in scam online directories.

How the scam works

• Your business receives an offer, often via fax, to list your businesses details in a scam online directory.
• The offer may aim to lock you into an expensive ongoing contract for periods of 12, 24 or 48 months. You may be asked to pay 12 months in advance. Contract fees can be over $1000 per year.
• The offer may set deadlines for your response and payment. For example you may be required to pay within a number of business days of accepting the offer.
• If you refuse to pay, the scammers might try to intimidate you by threatening legal action or debt collection.
• The offer may use variations and copies of well-known logos, words, brand names, business names, pre-existing directories or websites in order to appear legitimate and convince you that the listing is of high quality and value.
• The offer may appear to be from a local or Australian business directory but often only an international contact phone number is given.
• The offer may state that you can only terminate the agreement by giving lengthy written notice, sometimes as long as three months. This written notice may have to be sent to an overseas address.

Protect yourself

• Always check offers are legitimate and offer a quality product/service before you sign up. Search the wording of the offer or the company name on the web as many scams can be identified this way.
• It is important to check the legitimacy of all offers, whether they originate within Australia or overseas.
• If the offer includes an outstanding invoice, ensure that it is from a business that you normally deal with. If not it may be a scam.
• Check first: many small business scams involve fake invoices for goods or services that haven't been requested or provided.
• Never give or clarify any information about your business unless you trust the other party. Also ensure you know what the information will be used for.
• Try to avoid having a large number of people authorised to make orders or pay invoices.
• Beware of offers which come out of the blue and that you didn't ask for. Scammers almost always approach businesses in this manner. 
• Do not let anyone pressure you into making decisions involving payments or ongoing contracts. Always get independent financial or legal advice.
• If you are interested in listing your business details in a legitimate online directory, research your options first. Online reviews and forums may help.

Report
You can report scams to the ACCC via the report a scam page on SCAMwatch or by calling 1300 795 995.

More information
See our small business scams section for more information.

Stay one step ahead of scammers, follow @SCAMwatch_gov on Twitter or visit http://twitter.com/SCAMwatch_gov

______________________________________________

If you no longer want to receive SCAMwatch email alerts, please unsubscribe on the SCAMwatch website.

Alleged rapist accused of striking again while on bail

The alleged Mt Coot-tha rapist has been accused of striking again after being released from prison on bail, a court has heard.

 

The 38-year-old man from Murarrie in Brisbane's east, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly sexually assaulted a 20-year-old Korean student in New Farm Park on Friday night.

 

He appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court today charged with one count each of "stupefy", assault to rape and sexual assault.

 

Advertisement: Story continues below

 

He was also charged for breaching his bail conditions.

 

Last year, the 38-year-old was accused of drugging and raping at least three Asian students near the Mt Coot-tha lookout.

 

He allegedly lured the young women, he met via online student forums, to the lookout after promising to teach them English.

 

The 38-year-old was initially denied bail by a magistrate in April, but was later freed from prison by the Supreme Court on December 21.

 

He was remanded in custody today and is due to face court again on Thursday.

 

www.BrisbaneTimes.com.au

 

 

COMMENT: The Supreme Court has a lot to answer for over this latest outrage.

PaulGTully@gmail.com

SCAMwatch email alert: Beware of phone scams – 2011 Targeting Scams report [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Beware of phone scams – 2011 Targeting Scams report

View radar online.

Added: March 2012

SCAMwatch is continuing to warn Australians to beware of scams delivered by phone with the ACCC receiving over 43,000 reports of scams perpetrated this way in 2011.

Coinciding with National Consumer Fraud Week 2012, the ACCC released its third annual Targeting Scams Report. The report discusses 2011 scams activity and consumer fraud targeting Australian consumers and small businesses.

Targeting Scams report snapshot

• The ACCC received over 83,000 scam reports and enquiries in 2011, almost doubling that of 2010.
• Scam losses reported to the ACCC totalled more than $85.6 million, a 35 per cent increase from 2010.
• 88 per cent of consumers who contacted the ACCC about scams in 2011 reported no financial loss.
• The SCAMwatch website received in excess of 20.5 million hits throughout 2011, almost 400 per cent more than in 2010.
• SCAMwatch also welcomed almost 5,000 new subscribers to its email alert service and more than 2,600 followers to its Twitter page (http://twitter.com/SCAMwatch_gov) in 2011.
• The ACCC also observed a shift in the preferred mode of scam delivery from online methods in 2010 to unsolicited telephone calls in 2011. 
• Almost 52 per cent of scams reported to the ACCC in 2011 were delivered by phone and reported losses to these scams totalled more than $27.7 million.

Common phone scams reported in 2011 included

• Callers pretending to be from government: In 2011 the ACCC saw large numbers of advance fee scams initiated by telephone. Many involved scammers posing as representatives from government departments, for example offering fake grants, rebates or refunds in return for up-front payments.
• Callers pretending to be from companies: In 2011 it was also common for scammers to pose as staff from well known companies and organisations asking for personal details, payments or remote access to the victim's computer. Scammers posed as representatives from banks, computer companies, telecommunications services, postal and logistics services and solar panel installers.
• Scam SMS: Text messages are also commonly used by scammers to send competition or prize scams. Scammers often try to snare many people with one SMS sent en masse - this is known as spamming. Scammers may request personal details or payments in scam SMS messages. If you respond, you could also be charged at premium rates or find yourself signed up to a costly subscription service.

Protect yourself from phone scams

• Be cautious if you are contacted by someone claiming to be from government or a well known company and they request personal details or up-front payments.
• If you are in doubt about the authenticity of a call, don't commit to anything. Instead hang up and call the company or government department directly using their official customer service number to verify that it is genuine. Never use contact details provided by the caller, instead find the number via an independent source such as a phone book or online search.
• Never confirm or provide personal details, credit card numbers or other account information over the phone unless you initiated the call and trust the other party.
• If you receive a phone call out of the blue about your computer and requesting remote access - hang up – even if they mention a well-known company. Never give an unsolicited caller remote access to your computer.
• Remember that you can still receive scam calls even if you have a private number. Scammers can obtain your number fraudulently from black-market sources.

Report
You can report scams to the ACCC via the report a scam page on SCAMwatch or by calling 1300 795 995.

More information
Stay one step ahead of scammers, follow @SCAMwatch_gov on Twitter or visit http:www.scamwatch.gov.au.

______________________________________________

If you no longer want to receive SCAMwatch email alerts, please unsubscribe on the SCAMwatch website.

QLD Severe Weather Warning: Heavy Rain

QLD Severe Weather Warning: Heavy Rain Source: Bureau of Meteorology For people in the Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett, Maranoa and Warrego, Darling Downs and Granite Belt, Southeast Coast and parts of the Central West and Central Highlands and Coalfields districts. Issued at 5:00 pm on Wednesday 21 March 2012 Synoptic Situation: At 4pm AEST, the monsoon trough extended across northwest and central Queensland from the Gulf Country to the Capricornia district. A tropical low was situated approximately 165 kilometres east northeast of Longreach and moving in an east southeasterly direction at 20 kilometres per hour. The low is expected to continue moving in an east southeasterly direction this evening while weakening gradually during Thursday. A secondary low is otherwise expected to develop near or off Fraser Island or the Sunshine Coast late Thursday. 24 hour totals of 50 to 100mm are likely with isolated heavier falls greater than 150mm possible. Locations that may be affected include Emerald, Gladstone, Bundaberg, Charleville, Roma and Taroom. These conditions are expected to extend southwards across the Southeast Coast and remaining parts of the Darling Downs and Granite Belt tonight and early Thursday while gradually easing across central and western districts during the day. For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500. Complete warning text

Unsubscribe or EWN Support | BoM Radar

QLD Severe Weather Warning: Heavy Rain & Flash Flooding

QLD Severe Weather Warning: Heavy Rain & Flash Flooding Source: Bureau of Meteorology For people in the Southeast Coast district and parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett district. Issued at 4:50 pm on Sunday 4 March 2012 Synoptic Situation: At 4:00 pm AEST, a low pressure system was located over northern Hervey Bay. The low is forecast to cross the Wide Bay coast this afternoon and remain over southeastern Queensland on Monday. Heavy rain which may lead to flash flooding is expected to develop this evening about the Fraser and Sunshine Coasts, possibly extending to affect areas east of the Great Dividing Range and south of Bundaberg overnight and on Monday. Localised 24 hour rainfall totals in excess of 150mm are likely, especially about the Sunshine Coast. Locations which may be affected include Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Gympie, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Ipswich. Currently moderate rain is located on radar near Fraser Island and areas north of Noosa, extending inland to near Gayndah. Emergency Management Queensland advises that people should: * Avoid driving, walking or riding through flood waters. * Keep clear of creeks and storm drains. * For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

Unsubscribe or EWN Support | BoM Radar

QLD Severe Weather Warning: Heavy Rain

QLD Severe Weather Warning: Heavy Rain Source: Bureau of Meteorology For people in the Southeast Coast and parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett and Darling Downs and Granite Belt districts. Issued at 4:50 am on Friday 24 February 2012 Synoptic Situation: An upper low is currently developing over southeast Queensland, and is expected to move slowly westwards during the next 48 hours. A surface trough off the southern Queensland coast is expected to deepen and move westwards onto the coast late Friday. Heavy rain which may lead to flash flooding is expected to develop late Friday and continue through Saturday morning in the following forecast districts: - Southeast Coast; - Wide Bay and Burnett east of Hervey Bay to Kingaroy; - far eastern parts of the Darling Downs and Granite Belt 24 hour rainfall totals of 100 to 150 mm are likely about the coast and nearby ranges, with isolated rainfall totals in excess of 200mm possible. Locations which may be affected include Fraser Island, Gympie, Kingaroy, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Toowoomba and Warwick. Flood Warnings are current for various rivers and streams in these districts; see www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings. Emergency Management Queensland advises that people should: * Avoid driving, walking or riding through flood waters. * Keep clear of creeks and storm drains. * For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

Unsubscribe or EWN Support | BoM Radar

QLD Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Large Hail, Flash Flooding, Damaging Winds

QLD Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Large Hail, Flash Flooding, Damaging Winds Source: Bureau of Meteorology For people in the Southeast Coast and parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Wide Bay and Burnett, Maranoa and Warrego and Darling Downs and Granite Belt Forecast Districts. Issued at 11:57 am Tuesday, 21 February 2012. Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, very heavy rainfall, flash flooding and large hailstones in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Maroochydore, Gympie, Ipswich, Moreton Bay and islands, Kingaroy, Noosa and Taroom. Emergency Management Queensland advises that people should: * Move your car under cover or away from trees. * Secure loose outdoor items. * Avoid driving, walking or riding through flood waters. * Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees. * Avoid using the telephone during a thunderstorm. * Beware of fallen trees and powerlines. * For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

Unsubscribe or EWN Support | BoM Radar

QLD Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Large Hail, Flash Flooding, Damaging Winds

QLD Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Large Hail, Flash Flooding, Damaging Winds Source: Bureau of Meteorology For people in the Southeast Coast and parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Wide Bay and Burnett and Darling Downs and Granite Belt Forecast Districts. Issued at 11:22 am Monday, 13 February 2012. Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds, very heavy rainfall, flash flooding and large hailstones in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Warwick, Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Dalby, Maroochydore, Kingaroy and Stanthorpe. Emergency Management Queensland advises that people should: * Move your car under cover or away from trees. * Secure loose outdoor items. * Avoid driving, walking or riding through flood waters. * Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees. * Avoid using the telephone during a thunderstorm. * Beware of fallen trees and powerlines. * For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

Unsubscribe or EWN Support | BoM Radar

QLD Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Large Hail, Damaging Winds

QLD Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Large Hail, Damaging Winds Source: Bureau of Meteorology For people in parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Wide Bay and Burnett, Maranoa and Warrego, Darling Downs and Granite Belt and Southeast Coast Forecast Districts. Issued at 2:02 pm Sunday, 12 February 2012. Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds and large hailstones in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Warwick, Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Dalby, Coolangatta, Ipswich, Kingaroy, Stanthorpe, Boonah, Beenleigh, Oakey and Taroom. Emergency Management Queensland advises that people should: * Move your car under cover or away from trees. * Secure loose outdoor items. * Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees. * Avoid using the telephone during a thunderstorm. * Beware of fallen trees and powerlines. * For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500. The next warning is due to be issued by 5:05 pm. At 2:02 pm Sunday, 12 February 2012 a separate, more detailed Severe Thunderstorm Warning was current for the Southeast Queensland area (east of Dalby from Rainbow Beach to Stanthorpe). Refer to this product for more information.

Unsubscribe or EWN Support | BoM Radar

Southeast QLD Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Large Hail, Damaging Winds

Southeast QLD Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Large Hail, Damaging Winds Source: Bureau of Meteorology For people in the IPSWICH CITY and parts of the BRISBANE CITY, LOCKYER VALLEY, LOGAN CITY, MORETON BAY, SCENIC RIM and SOMERSET Council Areas. Issued at 8:02 pm Saturday, 11 February 2012. The Bureau of Meteorology warns that, at 8:05 pm, severe thunderstorms were detected on weather radar near Laidley, Hatton Vale and Kooralbyn. These thunderstorms are moving towards the east. They are forecast to affect the area south of Esk, Fernvale and southern Lake Wivenhoe by 8:35 pm and Ipswich, Beaudesert and the D'Aguilar Ranges by 9:05 pm. Damaging winds and large hailstones are likely. Emergency Management Queensland advises that people should: * Move your car under cover or away from trees. * Secure loose outdoor items. * Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees. * Avoid using the telephone during a thunderstorm. * Beware of fallen trees and powerlines. * For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

Unsubscribe or EWN Support | BoM Radar

Southeast QLD Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Flash Flooding

Southeast QLD Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Flash Flooding Source: Bureau of Meteorology For people in the IPSWICH CITY and parts of the BRISBANE CITY, LOCKYER VALLEY, LOGAN CITY, SCENIC RIM and SOMERSET Council Areas. Issued at 4:08 pm Tuesday, 7 February 2012. The Bureau of Meteorology warns that, at 4:05 pm, severe thunderstorms were detected on weather radar near Grandchester and Rosevale. These thunderstorms are moving towards the east to northeast. They are forecast to affect Marburg by 4:35 pm and Ipswich by 5:05 pm. Very heavy rainfall and flash flooding are likely. 36mm of rainfall was recorded at Glengallen (near Warwick) within 30 minutes at 3:10pm. A 77 km/hr wind gust was recorded at Oakey at 2:10pm. Emergency Management Queensland advises that people should: * Avoid driving, walking or riding through flood waters. * Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees. * Avoid using the telephone during a thunderstorm. * Beware of fallen trees and powerlines. * For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

Unsubscribe or EWN Support | BoM Radar

SCAMwatch email alert: Beware of distress emails targeting the APY lands [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Beware of distress emails targeting the APY lands

View radar online.

Added: January 2012

SCAMwatch and Consumer and Business Services in South Australia are warning people throughout the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands to beware of scam distress emails targeting the area.

How the scam works

• You receive an email from someone you know, such as a work colleague or contact claiming they have been robbed whilst attending a work conference overseas.
• Recent reports have shown that the scammer claims to have been robbed whilst in Spain, however scammers may use any overseas location.
• The email will say they urgently need to borrow money, often more than $3,000. They will ask for this money by wire or international money transfer. It is rare to recover money sent this way.
• The scammer will have hacked into someone's email account who has your contact details. This is why the email appears to be from someone you know.
• In recent times scammers have pretended to be a colleague, friend, family member or work contact. 
• The scammer will send the same email requesting money to every contact in the address book of the hacked email account.
• If you respond with your own contact details you may risk having your own email account hacked.
• If you send money this will go directly to the scammer and not to your colleague, friend or family member.
• The scammer will also delete all email addresses from the address book of the hacked email account so the account owner cannot warn their contacts of the scam.

Protect yourself

• If you receive an unexpected request for money from what appears to be a colleague, friend or family member, contact them directly via another means to check the request is genuine before sending money. Do not use any of the contact details from the email
• Do not open suspicious or unsolicited emails (spam): delete them. NEVER reply, not even to unsubscribe.
• NEVER send your online account details via email and think carefully before you give away any personal or financial information.
• Keep your computer updated with the latest anti-virus and anti-spy ware software. Also use a good firewall.

Report
If you think that you have been targeted by this scam please contact Consumer and Business Services for assistance on 13 1882.

You can also report scams to the ACCC via the report a scam page on SCAMwatch or by calling 1300 795 995.

More information
Consumer and Business Services has issued a media release on this scam - 'Stranded tourist' email scam targets the APY lands (PDF, 60KB).

Stay one step ahead of scammers, follow @SCAMwatch_gov on Twitter or visit http://twitter.com/SCAMwatch_gov.

______________________________________________

If you no longer want to receive SCAMwatch email alerts, please unsubscribe on the SCAMwatch website.

QLD Severe Weather Warning: Heavy Rainfall

QLD Severe Weather Warning: Heavy Rainfall Source: Bureau of Meteorology For people in parts of the Southeast Coast district and parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett and Darling Downs and Granite Belt districts. Issued at 11:15 am on Wednesday 25 January 2012 Synoptic Situation: An upper level low lies over southwestern Queensland and is forecast to move slowly west tonight and on Thursday. Moist and unstable NE winds currently extend into southeast Queensland. At 10:50am EST, the heaviest rain was located near coastal areas south of Bundaberg, and the Gold Coast hinterland, with the highest hourly totals between 40-50mm. A separate severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for very heavy rain and flash flooding. Widespread heavy showers, a few thunderstorms and rain areas are likely to continue over areas southeast of about Bundaberg to Texas, with locally heavy falls in excess of 100mm possible over the next 24 hours. Locations which may be affected include Gympie, Toowoomba, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Ipswich, the Gold Coast and Warwick. Flood Warnings are current for various coastal rivers and streams in southeast Queensland. Refer to www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings. Emergency Management Queensland advises that people should: - Avoid driving, walking or riding through flood waters. - Keep clear of creeks and storm drains. For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500. Complete warning text

Unsubscribe or EWN Support | BoM Radar

Flash flooding hits Goodna

Flash flooding has hit parts of Goodna as heavy rain continues to fall in Ipswich.

Notorious trouble spots closed to traffic include Albert St and Smiths Rd Goodna with Lower James St and parts of Woogaroo St likely to be closed in the next few hours.

Local councillor Paul Tully said no homes were threatened at this stage but the community was "on edge" as localised flooding intensified, bringing back memories of January 2011.

Cr Tully urged motorists and pedestrians to exercise extreme caution around Goodna over the next few hours.

Pic: Albert St Goodna under water as localised flooding hits the suburb.

QLD Severe Weather Warning: Heavy Rainfall

QLD Severe Weather Warning: Heavy Rainfall Source: Bureau of Meteorology For people in parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett, Southeast Coast and Darling Downs and Granite Belt districts for Tuesday. Issued at 5:05 pm on Monday 23 January 2012 Synoptic Situation: At 4pm AEST, an upper level trough extended over the interior of Queensland. This upper trough is expected to remain slow moving and intensify during Tuesday. A surface trough is expected to develop near the southern Queensland coast early Tuesday, extending a moist northeasterly wind flow into southeast districts. Heavy rain which may lead to flash flooding is expected through areas southeast of about Bundaberg to Goondiwindi on Tuesday, initially developing on the coast and spreading inland during the day. 24 hour totals in excess of 150 mm are possible. Locations which may be affected include Hervey Bay, Gympie, Toowoomba, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Ipswich and the Gold Coast. A Flood Warning is current for coastal rivers and streams from Rainbow Beach to Redcliffe and adjacent inland catchments. Emergency Management Queensland advises that people should: * Avoid driving, walking or riding through flood waters. * Keep clear of creeks and storm drains. For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

Unsubscribe or EWN Support | BoM Radar