Scam warning: Thieves on other end of your phone

Photo / Thinkstock

A local pensioner is calling for people to think twice when talking to strangers on the phone after a scam almost robbed her of all her money.

Rotorua resident Angela Baggaley received a phone call from a woman about midday on Monday, but little did she know the call would lead to her giving out her personal and bank account details.

Ms Baggaley said the woman, who had an Asian accent, claimed she was one of 50 people selected by the Government to get a $6000 grant for paying her taxes.

The woman then asked Ms Baggaley, whose mother had died less then a week ago, for her details including where she lived and her full name and date of birth, before telling her a supervisor will call her back confirming the grant.

"Usually I would just hang up in a situation like that, but it all seemed so legitimate," she said.

"And with mum having just passed away, I wasn't in a good head space, I wasn't thinking straight, I just went along with it."

Minutes later she received a call back from a man claiming to be the supervisor, who eventually asked for her bank details and how much money she currently had in her account. She gave the information to him.

"I should've seen the red flags right then, but I didn't. They give you this false sense of security, and lead you to believe that what they are saying is true."

Ms Baggaley said it wasn't until she put the phone down, that she realised she had been scammed.

Fortunately she immediately contacted her bank, Westpac, and had her pin and account details changed before the scammers got to her money. "I would hate for anyone,

Scam warning after thieves target pensioner by phone

especially the elderly and vulnerable, to be ripped off by these people, who are just heartless. So if it's not someone you know, just hang up," she said.

Grey Power Rotorua president Rosemary MacKenzie said while she didn't believe scammers specifically targeted the elderly, they were often the victims of such scams.

"I mean anyone can get scammed, but it's especially so for those who are vulnerable or those who are alone and may just enjoy having someone to speak to ..."

Westpac spokeswoman Haley Ritchie said the situation Ms Baggaley had found herself in was a timely reminder that customers should take precautions with their details.

She said it was important customers did not write down their pin numbers, especially on their cards, or tell anyone their pins. This included police, family members, bank staff or anyone on the phone. Customers can keep up-to-date with scams on the Westpac website, www.westpac.co.nz.

Ms Baggaley contacted police, who said they hadn't heard of this particular scam. The police were unavailable for comment yesterday.