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NEWS DESK

Woman duped in online scam A FRANKSTON woman has been duped into handing over several hundred thousand dollars to a man she never met in an online dating scam. The lonely woman, 63, was contacted in December by a potential “friend” who said he was in Australia but was soon returning to Turkey. The man said he was a civil engineer who was working on a project in that country and “needed funding to finalise the project” which he wasn’t able to provide himself. “They continued with online conversations which were quite affectionate and made it sound like they were a couple and had been seeing each other,” Detective Sergeant Gary Richards, of Frankston CIU, said. “The victim never spoke to the other person using any face image media, such as Skype.” But he managed to convince the woman of his bona fides and persuaded her to deposit the

money in four large transactions into his bank account. The woman never heard from the man again. Frankston detectives have contacted Interpol but it is unlikely that the money will be recovered. “Scams happen every day and sometimes they can be very sophisticated,” Detective Richards said. “When it comes to sending money to anyone, and particularly to someone overseas, people should first contact local police for advice. “In this case, the victim is humiliated and saddened because she thought she had a friend and now she realises she was duped.” The investigation is ongoing. See scamwatch.gov.au, an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission site, for information about types of online scams. Stephen Taylor

MORNINGTON Peninsula District scouts and cubs were well prepared for their annual regatta at Sorrento. Despite inclement weather which prevented the sail boats going in the water, cubs and scouts from all over the peninsula had a great day with canoe and kayak races and beach activities. The scout district comprises 12 scout groups from Mt Eliza to Sorrento, and has 750 uniform members and dozens of support personnel. District commissioner Tina Bennett said scouting was open to girls and boys aged 6-26. Ms Bennett said scouting encouraged team building, leadership, initiative and independence, while “at the same time having fun”. Inquiries: Tina Bennett 0409 131 489. The regatta is held each year as close as possible to 22 February, the birthday of the Scouts founder, Robert Baden-Powell.

Seeing red over

Drug deals: mother, son charged

Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au

A MOTHER and son arrested in Somerville last week allegedly supplied cannabis to school students over the past 12 months. Sniffer dogs taken to their house assisted police in allegedly finding two cannabis plants, 57 grams of cannabis in foils and $2865 cash. A 41-year-old woman was charged with drug trafficking and possession and profiting from the proceeds of crime. She was bailed to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court in April. Her son, 15, a former student of the school, was charged with cultivating, trafficking and possession. He was summonsed to appear at a children’s court at a later date. Acting Senior Sergeant Melissa Rodgers, of Hastings police, described the pair as “major distributors [of cannabis] to kids in Somerville”. She said police would allege “four ounces

BEAUTY is in the eye of the beholder, and the bright blue colour scheme of Morgan’s fish and chippery in Sorrento is no exception. Owner Julian Gerner, who says he received the go ahead for his chosen colour scheme from Mornington Peninsula Shire council last year, thinks it is attractive. “The colour is part of the branding of the fishand-chip shop,” he said. “I’ve spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the trading space yet people choose to focus on my painting it a certain colour. Taste is subjective.” Mr Gerner said he had a permit to paint the “whole façade of the shop”. But others in the town are incredulous, with new Nepean ward councillor Bryan Payne saying the paintwork is “another blight on the heritage

of cannabis was being sold from the house per week” since February last year. “We are told this house was the go-to place for kids to buy cannabis in Somerville,” Sergeant Rodgers said. Two plants were allegedly found growing at the property, which is close to Somerville Secondary College. Principal Christopher Lloyd said he did not know if the mother and son had sold drugs to Somerville secondary students, even though they “lived close by”. The school had not counselled students specifically over this drug issue, but regularly ran harm minimisation sessions to advise of the dangers of drugs. Stephen Taylor

Prepared for day at the beach

Colour bar: The bright blue paintwork of Morgan’s fish and chippery on the Sorrento foreshore. Picture: Yanni

buildings in Sorrento”. “The town has quite a few heritage-listed buildings and we need to preserve them,” he said. “Everyone in Sorrento feels the same way.”

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