Minister warns of phishing email scam

Queenslanders beware, another scam targeting electricity consumers has reared its head.

Acting Energy and Water Supply Minister Andrew Cripps said Ergon Energy customers were being targeted with phishing emails in the form of bogus electricity accounts.

“The emails from a company calling itself Pacific Gas & Electric include a link which directs customers to a site where they are asked to enter personal information such as bank account numbers, passwords and credit card details,” Mr Cripps said.

In the last few days customers in North Queensland, Central Queensland and the Toowoomba area had received the emails.

“This is a scam aimed at collecting credit card and personal information for fraudulent use.” he said.

Ergon Energy Group Manager Retail Service Channels Brett Milne said he was not aware of any electricity retailer called Pacific Gas & Electric offering services in regional Queensland.

“Some of our customers knew the emails were a scam and rang to alert Ergon. There are probably substantially more customers who’ve also received the same email.” Mr Milne said.

The phishing scam comes less than a week after reports of a phone scam targeting residents in Brisbane’s north.

 The Queensland Government advises all Queenslanders they should never give out personal information, bank account or credit card details to any person or organisation they don’t know or trust whether the request comes via email, over the phone or through some other avenue.

Customers receiving bogus emails or phone calls should not respond but call the Office of Fair Trading hotline number – 13 74 68 or contact them via their web site at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au

They can also contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on 1300 302 502 or visit their web site www.scamwatch.gov.au” he said.

[ENDS] 15 January 2014

Media Contact: Phil Hind 0437 334 183