On two separate occasions on October 16, Ararat Police had reports of government agencies, either the Australian Taxation Office or the Australian Government, calling Ararat residents stating that they were owed an amount of approximately $7266.

On each of these calls the caller asks the resident to go to the post office and collect a Western Union Money order for $199 and to call them later in the day for postal direction. They then ask how the victim would like to be paid and that the money would be in their bank or by cheque within 48 hours.

Police are warning residents that this is a scam.

Police are also informing residents if they suspect they are being scammed they can report the scam online to 'SCAMwatch' (The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.)