7/6/11 – ATO scam – Edna Sloan – Ten News Perth

Presenter:
An 80 year old Bunbury grandmother has been swindled out of her life savings by scammers posing as Australian tax agents.  Edna Sloan lost almost $60,000 to Indian-based con artists.

Reporter:
It started with a phone call and a promise of $7,000.  Two months later, Edna Sloan had wired thousands of dollars to scammers in India claiming to be Australian Tax Office workers.  They told Ms Sloan she qualified for a special grant but had to hand over $200 to secure the windfall.  From there, the amounts increased and spiralled out of control.

Edna Sloan:
He said I need to pay the tax on the $7,000 so I did that, but it just kept accumulating.

Reporter:
The scammers encouraged her to borrow money from family and friends.

Edna Sloan:
I said my family’s not in that sort of position to do that and they were getting really pushy.

Reporter:
They convinced her to keep the promised cash a secret.

Dennis Sloan, son:
I don’t know how you get sucked in so badly, it’s hard.

Reporter:
After ploughing through her life savings, Mrs Sloan took out a $15,000 bank loan, handing that over too.  Today some good news, the bank telling her she doesn’t have to repay the money.

Dennis Sloan:
She always had money in the bank and it was quite easy to pay a bill when it comes but now it won’t be like that.

Edna Sloan:
I’ve got my pension, that’s it.

Reporter:
Consumer Protection says the scam was manipulative and sophisticated and could reel anyone in.

Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Gary Newcombe:
They are targeting everybody and they are broadcasting these scams as far and wide as they can go.  They are run by organised crime and one of the ways organised criminals raise a lot of money.

Reporter:
Mr Newcombe says no bank or government department will ever ask for money to be sent up front.

Edna Sloan:
Unless they give you something that’s in writing, or something – just don’t do it.