FAIR Trading is offering sound advice for what we can do when we receive a scam telephone call. Commissioner Rod Stowe is warning residents to hang up on scam phone calls, especially if the caller claims to be from a government agency and requests money transfers via Western Union. Mr Stowe said Fair Trading is receiving reports of scam calls to consumers where the caller claimed they were representing Queensland Fair Trading and used the name Tiffany. NSW Fair Trading has confirmed with Queensland Fair Trading that no such officer exists. Nor would either agency ever be calling consumers and asking them to transfer money via Western Union. Mr Stowe said scam callers tell consumers they have obtained funds owing to them from a bank account and that in order to receive the money, people need to deposit money for administrative purposes, via Western Union. One consumer was told he had money owing to him from a Westpac account. The consumer was given a case reference number of 102259 and a phone number of (07) 3102 4575. A couple of days later, the consumer was contacted again and told he would need to deposit $179 to Queensland Fair Trading by way of Western Union. Fortunately the consumer smelt a rat and didn’t proceed any further with the conversation. Mr Stowe encouraged consumers to check for the latest scam information at www.scamwatch.gov.au or call 1300 795 995.