Maitland’s disaster will no doubt unite its residents in the aftermath.
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That you can count on.
Sadly, there are others who will wish turn this devastation to their own advantage.
We urge everyone to exercise caution. A low-life element has emerged from the flood water already.
Three shops were broken into at Rutherford on Tuesday night.
On the Central Coast another fraudster started phoning residents asking for donations to the NSW State Emergency Service.
Gosford NSW SES responded quickly on Facebook to warn honest, generous people not to fall victim.
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission asked people to exercise caution.
If you receive a call from someone who claims to represent a charity, find their phone number on the ACNC charity register at aacnc.gov.au/findacharity and call them back.
Do not provide your personal, credit card or online bank account details over the phone.
Always ask for identification from door to door and street fundraising collectors.
Do not open suspicious or unsolicited emails – delete them.
And if you think that there is something wrong, contact the charity directly and alert them of your concerns.
A third threat could appear in the flood clean up.
If you or loved ones need to pay for repairs, make sure the tradesman is legitimate. Offers to fix storm damage cheaply should ring alarm bells.
A valid contractor license is needed for wiring, plumbing, draining, gas fitting, air conditioning or refrigeration work. Visit www.service.nsw.gov.au/ transaction/check-builder-or-tradespersons-license to check their licence number or call 137 788.
By law, all contractors must show their licence number on all advertising, stationery and signs.