Scammers threaten pensioners with arrest if they don't pay
Jul 8, 2015 6:30:54 GMT 7
Denise likes this
Post by Banjo on Jul 8, 2015 6:30:54 GMT 7
Scammers threaten pensioners with arrest if they don't pay
EDIE Probert has had a tough year.
Having recently lost her son in an unfortunate accident, last Friday week she received a call telling her there was a warrant out for her arrest.
The Evans Head senior lives alone in a small unit and turned to her daughter Eileen Stewart, distraught and scared that she was going to jail due to an unknown tax debt.
"I started crying and I was a total mess," Ms Probert said.
She was told she owed $4986 to the Australian Tax Office.
"They knew information about my working history," she said.
Checks by Ms Stewart to authorities uncovered the fact that it was a scam.
"Mum was blue in the face when I turned up," Ms Stewart said.
"No wonder they are getting money, they are terrifying people."
Ms Probert is not alone in receiving such a phone call, as the Express Examiner did a call out on Facebook and many people have reported to receiving an automated message on their phones advising them to call back.
The message goes:
"This is an automatic message from the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions on behalf of the Australian Tax Office
"There is a petition out against your name along with an arrest warrant.
"Please give us a call back on (phone number)."
Graham and Marilyn Cameron run the Evans Head post office and stopped one elderly pensioner from withdrawing a large amount of money while she was taking instructions over the phone.
"She looked very upset as she was talking on the phone and being told to take money out," Mr Cameron said.
"We told her to hang up as it was a scam, but she was so frightened it took some convincing."
Mr Cameron said it wasn't the first time he'd stopped a customer from taking money out as a result of a scam.
"A few months ago a customer wanted to do a Western Union transfer," he said. "Australia Post had advised us about the scam so when I saw what it was for, I didn't process it."
For further information visit www.cdpp.gov.au.
EDIE Probert has had a tough year.
Having recently lost her son in an unfortunate accident, last Friday week she received a call telling her there was a warrant out for her arrest.
The Evans Head senior lives alone in a small unit and turned to her daughter Eileen Stewart, distraught and scared that she was going to jail due to an unknown tax debt.
"I started crying and I was a total mess," Ms Probert said.
She was told she owed $4986 to the Australian Tax Office.
"They knew information about my working history," she said.
Checks by Ms Stewart to authorities uncovered the fact that it was a scam.
"Mum was blue in the face when I turned up," Ms Stewart said.
"No wonder they are getting money, they are terrifying people."
Ms Probert is not alone in receiving such a phone call, as the Express Examiner did a call out on Facebook and many people have reported to receiving an automated message on their phones advising them to call back.
The message goes:
"This is an automatic message from the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions on behalf of the Australian Tax Office
"There is a petition out against your name along with an arrest warrant.
"Please give us a call back on (phone number)."
Graham and Marilyn Cameron run the Evans Head post office and stopped one elderly pensioner from withdrawing a large amount of money while she was taking instructions over the phone.
"She looked very upset as she was talking on the phone and being told to take money out," Mr Cameron said.
"We told her to hang up as it was a scam, but she was so frightened it took some convincing."
Mr Cameron said it wasn't the first time he'd stopped a customer from taking money out as a result of a scam.
"A few months ago a customer wanted to do a Western Union transfer," he said. "Australia Post had advised us about the scam so when I saw what it was for, I didn't process it."
For further information visit www.cdpp.gov.au.