ELDERLY local residents are being targeted by scammers who phone accusing them of tax fraud then offering to settle the matter out of court.
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Marie Taylor of Bonnells Bay recently received one such call.
The caller left a voicemail message in which he identified himself as "Peter from the CDPP (Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions) on behalf of the ATO (Australian Tax Office)".
"He said 'There's a warrant out for your arrest in regard to taxation, however if you ring this number we may be able to come to some arrangement before it goes to court'," Ms Taylor said.
The scammer later made a follow-up call, leaving a more threatening voicemail message.
"In that message he talked about tax fraud and said 'If you disregard this message you will be in serious trouble. It's extremely urgent. If you disregard this ... good luck!'."
Ms Taylor, a pensioner with a small savings account, said the calls unsettled her.
"I thought 'Hell! What have I done?' It was really upsetting," she said.
But she had the presence of mind to phone Toronto police, the Australian Tax Office and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's ScamWatch.
All three authorities confirmed the call was a scam they were already aware of locally.
Ms Taylor said she was able to provide the authorities with some detailed information about the scammer, including his phone numbers.
"ScamWatch told me that if the man rings me again I am to say 'I have reported you to the authorities. Do not ring this number again', and then to hang up," she said.
■ For more scam guidance, visit scamwatch.gov.au or phone 1300 795995.