WIMMERA police have warned residents about a phone scam that has resurfaced.
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Horsham’s Acting Inspector Dave Ellis received phone calls from a recorded message that pretended to be the Australian Taxation Office.
Acting Inspector Ellis has since become aware of other community members receiving the same automated message.
“We have received reports of people receiving telephone calls which feature a recorded English accented male voice purporting to be from the ATO,” he said.
“The voice demands that contact be made immediately with ATO by pressing a number on the key paid and being diverted to a payment option.
“The menacing threat states that you may be subject to court action and imprisonment unless you respond. This is a scam.”
Acting Inspector Ellis said the scam has been ongoing for four months, but the Scamwatch website showed that it “comes and goes”.
He said people need to be cautious, otherwise they could be a victim of the scam.
“I suspect the vulnerable and elderly could follow the instruction of the message and be out of pocket as a result,” he said.
Acting Inspector Ellis said the ATO was aware of an increase in phone scamming. He said more information could be found on the ATO’s website.
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