This time scammers are claiming to be calling from the Australian Tax Office (ATO) and looking to recover thousands of dollars in tax debt.

As usual the targets are often the elderly or the vulnerable.

These callers show no mercy as they push people to go to the bank and immediately withdraw the money that they supposedly owe.

Two Central Western Daily staff members were also recently targeted by the scammers and both report feeling very unsettled as a result of the experience.

One woman said even though she realised the caller was trying to rip her off, she was still shocked at his menacing tone and insistence she owed the ATO a considerable amount of cash.

The government’s Scamwatch site is also warning consumers to be aware of scammers falsely claiming to be from both the ATO and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

According to the site the scammers may spin you a range of stories about why an arrest warrant has been issued, including that you have failed to pay taxes.

The reason scams proliferate is because they work. Every day scammers manage to extract money from innocent victims, many of whom can’t afford to pay what is asked.

As a community it’s up to all of us to spread the word about these despicable people and ensure our elderly and vulnerable are forewarned and prepared should they receive a call.

We also need to remind them that they should never share their personal, credit card or online account details over the phone unless the request to do so has come from a trusted source. 

Once we all wise up to what these scammers are doing and stop falling for their tricks, the pesky and potentially harmful calls will stop.