Warning to Tenants in Public Housing

POLICE are investigating reports of a man posing as a public housing employee in order to gain tenants' personal details.

Housing Tasmania tenants have been warned not to respond to callers enquiring about their security arrangements and seeking their bank account details.

Human Services Minister Lin Thorp said that a man fraudulently claiming to represent Housing Tasmania had telephoned a public housing client yesterday saying that he was conducting a survey of security systems at the property.

"The caller asked what, if any, system was in the property and claimed security systems were to be upgraded and this work needed to be done when the tenant wasn't present," Ms Thorp said.

"He then asked the tenant when they would be away from the property.

"The caller also stated that rental payments were no longer able to be deducted from Centrelink payments and asked for bank details of the tenant so an alternative payment method could be set up."

Ms Thorp said Housing Tasmania had not changed payment methods and was not conducting a telephone survey on security systems.

"There have been no changes to deduction arrangements for rent payments and Housing Tasmania is not asking clients to supply or update their bank account details for this purpose.

"This scam appears to be targeting public housing tenants who reside in unit complexes in the south of the state."

Tasmania Police are requesting that anyone who receives a similar call to hang up and call 6230 2111 or their local Housing Tasmania office.
DAMIEN BROWN July 29, 2009