‘Unthinkable’ flood-related scams fleece victims of more than $50,000, authorities say

Scammers have allegedly fleeced at least $50,000 through cons related to devastating flooding across Australia's east coast, with criminals impersonating charities, emergency services and government departments in dozens of frauds.

New South Wales police have received multiple reports about scams they said were "unthinkable", but no arrests have yet been made.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said at least 45 scam reports related to flooding had been lodged with its Scamwatch project in NSW and Queensland since 1 February.

Flood waters inundated large areas of NSW and Queensland from late February, with thousands of homes left uninhabitable or severely damaged.

The ACCC said of the 45 reports it was aware of, six people said they had lost at least $54,308 in total.

The scams have included SMS messages with suspicious links asking recipients to check severe weather reports; pre-recorded phone messages offering money to flood victims; scammers impersonating Telstra or NBN workers; fake charities, raffles or donation requests, often on Facebook; insurance or repair scams; and phone scammers impersonating the State Emergency Service or government departments offering flood relief payments.

Ali King, the Queensland MP for Pumicestone, said she received a scam text in early March. The text, which she posted to her Facebook page, claimed to be from someone wanting "to assist you on your reclaim", and asked her to send a message to an email address.

"I got a text today from someone assigned to help me with my insurance claim. I don't have an insurance claim," King wrote. "Watch out for flood scammers, everyone."

Justine Elliot, the federal MP for Richmond in the NSW northern rivers, said she had received reports from her constituents of attempted scams around the floods.

"It's the most cruel and heartless thing I've heard of," she told Guardian Australia.

"People have lost homes, livelihoods, businesses, they're struggling to get government assistance, and there's these evil scammers preying on people who are so vulnerable and traumatised."

Elliot said her electorate had a high proportion of older people and she was concerned about their increased susceptibility to scams. "I've been encouraging people to report it. It's sickening," she said.

NSW police said the scams were under investigation.

"NSW police been made aware by members of flood-impacted communities that some residents have observed persons door-knocking and impersonating a range of volunteer and government services before asking for funds and donations," a spokesperson said.

"It is unthinkable that scammers would use this as an opportunity to target people and communities.

"Please be aware that official agencies will never door-knock you and ask for payment or any other financial information and we urge anyone who receives one of these calls to report it to Scamwatch immediately."

NSW police warned against attempts to fraudulently claim flood grants or payments from the government.

The state crime commander, assistant commissioner Stuart Smith, said people attempting to exploit the scheme would be charged.

"There are sufficient security features within the grant process - including artificial intelligence systems and the cross-matching of data - that will flag any suspicious claims for investigation," he said.

"These payments are public money that has been explicitly set aside for those who have been devastated by recent natural events and need it most.

"Police are working closely with Service NSW to monitor and investigate any dubious applications - any fraudsters will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."