Warning after water scam uncovered

BOGUS scammers are posing as South East Water employees and trying to scare vulnerable residents into buying water filters worth thousands of dollars.
A water filtration company is sending letters to residents in Melbourne’s south-east, wrongly stating that their water may be a health risk following the recent dry spell and bushfires, and offers to have a water advisor analyse their water.
The scammers dress similarly to South East Water staff when door-knocking houses.
South East Water’s general manager of corporate services Russell Eddington said the company reportedly used powdered tints to falsely indicate the water may be a health risk.
Mr Eddington said South East Water customers had nothing to worry about.
“Firstly, I want to ensure South East Water households their water is safe to drink,” he said.
“We constantly audit our water quality and only water of a high standard is released from our reserves.
“If there was any concern whatsoever, South East Water would have notified all residents in affected areas of any potential risk.”
Mr Eddington said the company had operated in the area previously and moved onto other cities when exposed.
“Every so often, we see letters like this and residents should not be scared into spending thousands of dollars,” he said.
“Companies like this prey on the elderly and vulnerable and should be exposed.”
He said South East Water was investigating the matter and would be prepared to take action if necessary.
Pakenham’s Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU) was not aware of the bogus company operating in the Pakenham area.