Riverina alert for wanted fugitive

A man who has been on the run from police since 2010 may be in the NSW-Victoria border area, detectives say.

Anyone who sees Graham Gene Potter is urged not to approach him. Source: Herald Sun

AUSTRALIA'S most wanted fugitive may be working as a fruit picker on the Victoria-NSW border.

Graham Gene Potter, 55, who has been on the run for three years, is facing charges of conspiracy to murder and is also wanted over a syndicate's attempts to import a record haul of drugs through Melbourne's docks.

The conspiracy case involves a plot to kill a well-known underworld identity, who can't be named for legal reasons.

There were plans to strike at Mick Gatto's son's wedding in March 2008, after a kickboxing tournament the night before the wedding, and at the Reggio Calabria Club in Parkville three months later.

Potter has been on the run since he failed to answer bail in the conspiracy case at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on February 1, 2010.

Police opposed bail being granted the previous May.

But it is understood Potter had been co-operating with federal authorities in the drug case.

Several months ago Purana Taskforce detectives received information that Potter might be staying in the Riverina area.

He was spotted by police in Tully, south of Cairns, last August 28. Potter ran and a search recovered camping gear at a caravan park where he had been staying for about six weeks.

He had grown a beard and donned a fat suit while a fugitive in Queensland.

There have been numerous sightings and CCTV taken of a man suspected to be Potter.

Detective Superintendent Gerry Ryan said there had been unconfirmed sightings in Tocumwal, NSW, and Cobram areas.

"We are aware that Mr Potter is capable of living rough and camping out so there is a chance he could be staying in caravan parks or camping in remote areas of the Riverina," he said.

"We also believe there is a possibility that local growers and farmers could unknowingly be employing Mr Potter as a labourer or picker.

"We are asking those employers to consider carefully who they are providing lodging to or employing and to make reasonable enquiries about their prospective employee's identity."

In 1980 Potter murdered Wollongong teen Kim Barry and cut off her head and fingers. He became trusted by underworld figures during 16 years in jail.

Police say he uses aliases that include Josh Lawson, John Page, Jim Henderson and Peter Adams.

A $100,000 reward was offered in 2011 for information leading to his capture.

Anyone who sees Graham Gene Potter is urged not to approach him and to call triple 0, while anyone with information on his whereabouts can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

anthony.dowsley@news.com.au

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Alert as travellers scammed of $250,000

Travellers have been warned of online holiday scams. Picture: Supplied

AUSTRALIAN travellers have reported losses of over $250,000 in internet scams already this year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says.

More than 100 travel-related complaints have flooded in to the watchdog with fake rental listings, bogus holiday vouchers and hackers the most common issues.

The sheer number of cases has prompted the ACCC to warn travellers to be cautious when booking their winter getaways, particularly if the deal seems too good to be true.

Revealed: The worst travel scams ever

"While you're making holiday plans, scammers are plotting to steal your hard-earned dollars," ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.

"Our most commonly reported travel scam comes from holidaymakers finding that discount accommodation vouchers they paid for don't arrive, are fakes or simply can't be used as promised."

Scammers have also been hacking into popular travel websites to access email inquiries and then assume the identity of the property owner, prompting customers to make fake bookings.

Claire (real name withheld) was one of the victims of such scams. She had been making inquiries on travel  websites for Bali hotel deals and received a voucher via email for a heavily discounted luxury resort. At $1200 for 10 nights, it was a good deal. She paid using international funds transfer and booked her flights, but when she arrived in Bali the hotel had no knowledge of her booking.

Travel website Stayz is one of the sites that has been hit by a series of scams in recent months, with cyber criminals altering the details of listings on the Fairfax site.

Last August a scam targeted users of TripAdvisor's FlipKey service, where the owner's email account was hacked and fake contracts were made.

The ACCC advises travellers to take care when booking a deal.

"Before booking your holiday, do your homework by contacting the company directly using details that you have sourced independently through the phone book or an online search. Often scammers have no arrangements with the accommodation providers to offer discount stays," Ms Rickard said.

"Don't trust the legitimacy of an ad just because it appears in a reputable newspaper or online classifieds website as scammers often use these. If you receive an email out of the blue from a stranger offering a great holiday deal, delete it and do not click on any links or open attachments.

"Always keep your computer security up to date with anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a good firewall. If you think you have provided your financial details or sent money to a scammer, contact your financial institution immediately."

Have you been the victim of a travel scam? Contact Kate.Schneider@news.com.au

Follow our Travel Editor and Travel Reporter on Twitter.

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App alert to be game changer

BRAINSTORM: A new smartphone app aims to identify the warning signs of head injury and the treatment required among football players. Source: The Courier-Mail

PARENTS have been urged to embrace a new smartphone app which aims to identify the warning signs of concussion in junior footballers and de-mystify their path to recovery.

With most underage football competitions under way, the launch of the awareness program could minimise the risk of brain injuries.

Research shows one in five junior rugby league players are likely to suffer from concussion this year and experts warn that failure to follow appropriate treatment guidelines can have catastrophic outcomes.

The prevention of head injuries has become a hot topic in professional sports worldwide in recent years, triggered largely by the concussion injury class action lawsuit brought by former players against America's NFL.

It has also been at the heart of moves this season by Australia's National Rugby League to introduce a ban on the controversial shoulder charge in a bid to reduce head injuries.

Medical researcher Dr Ryan Kohler has developed a free mobile and online tool kit to help parents, coaches and officials identify concussion symptoms and begin effective treatment.

"Parents aren't going to be carrying medical textbooks around on a Saturday morning. They'll have their keys, a mobile and a wallet," said Dr Kohler, a match physician for Super Rugby's Brumbies.

"This is something you can hold in the palm of your hand."

The Sports Concussion Australasia website and its First Responder app warn that concussion symptoms can be worsened by:

• Repeated horizontal eye reading movement;

• Use of TV screens, computers and mobile device screens;

• Crowded rooms with no ventilation;

• Noise relating to talking, singing, shouting, music and clapping.

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Residents on alert for Grampians blaze

The huge Grampians blaze has now burnt 31,000ha. Picture: Jason Edwards Source: Herald Sun

AN emergency bushfire warning for the Grampians town of Glenisla has been downgraded, but residents have been warned to stay alert.

The fast-moving bushfire jumped containment lines this morning, prompting the CFA to issue an emergency warning for residents near the Glenisla Crossing.

But the threat was downgraded to Watch and Act after fire crews managed to re-form barriers around the blaze.

The Grampians fire has burnt through 31,000 hectares of bush in the state forest, increasing dramatically in size overnight.

A state control centre spokeswoman said while an overnight wind change slowed the fire last night, the blaze jumped containment lines this morning.

"It jumped containment lines in the northeast corner," she said.

"We have 374 firefighters in the area who are battling the blaze.”

The blaze is only kilometres away from the historic Glenisla Homestead.

About 370 crew, more than 80 vehicles have and 14 aircraft will continue to fight the fire today.

The blaze, which was sparked by multiple lighting strikes a week ago, has spewed embers up to 30km ahead of the firefront and fuelled further spot fires.

Glenisla, Cherrypool, Woohlpooer and Mooralla are the latest rural townships to be threatened by the blaze, with residents warned to action their fire survival plans as a precaution.

State Control Centre spokesman Kevin Monk said the latest threat sparked when the fire was propelled by strong wind gusts across the Henty Hwy between the communities of Glenisla and Woohlpooer.

“The winds have been very variable around this area,” he said last night.

A CFA spokeswoman said there were six large farms in the Glenisla region and their residents were all doorknocked on Wednesday and warned to have their fire plan ready to enact.

"The fire is quite close to properties in the area," she said.

Keep up to date with CFA fire events at its website.

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STAY SAFE

The Herald Sun has joined with fire authorities to keep Victorians informed. Check out the Bushfire Ready page for the latest advice, warnings and videos from the CFA. This page is updated with the latest warnings from across the state. Save it to your bookmarks. You can access it from our homepage (click on Bushfire Ready) from any computer. This service is not available on smart phones.

Check live weather information - including fire warnings - on your computer AND smart phone at our Weather page. Just add m.heraldsun.com.au to your smart phone bookmarks and follow the View weather forecast link.

The CFA has a live fire map. Check it out here and add to your bookmarks.

Reports and alerts will also be posted to our Facebook page and from our official Twitter account.

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 - with Andy Burns

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