By JESSE GRAHAM
A CHUM Creek woman is calling on residents to report scam phone calls, after scammers pretending to be from the ATO demanded thousands from her last week.
Ira and Rod Barker received a suspicious phone call, on Tuesday 2 February, from people claiming to be from the Australian Tax Office (ATO), demanding about $5000 and accusing the couple of tax fraud.
However, Ira quickly realised it was a scam phone call, and said she kept the caller on the line for about half an hour.
“I knew it was a scam right from the beginning, and I had nothing else to do today,” Ira said, talking to the Mail after receiving the call.
That’s when she said the call took a nastier turn, with the caller saying the couple’s house, car and driver’s licence would be “repossessed”.
“They threatened that the Federal Police will be here in 40 minutes,” she said.
“I’m waiting…”
Ira said they also threatened to give her details to the “local paper”, to disgrace her and her husband.
She said it was the fourth suspicious phone call the couple had received, and wanted to spread the word to avoid people getting roped in and, potentially, losing money.
“The next person they ring might be someone you know, who might fall for it,” Ira said.
“I could see how a lot of people would fall for it, especially elderly people.
“If you do get a scam, to report it – the more information ScamWatch have got, the more they can do about it.”
ScamWatch put out information warning residents of the fake phone calls in April 2015.
The scam phone callers, according to ScamWatch, may leave answering machine messages, asking residents to call back and accusing them of tax fraud, or saying there is a warrant for their arrest through the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
They then demand money be sent via wire transfer, which the body notes is “impossible” to recover.
It is recommended that residents hang up if receiving a call like this, and to look up the government department’s contact details – not to call back on a number they provide.
People can report scams to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) by calling 1300 795 995 or by visiting www.scamwatch.gov.au
