But she fears other elderly residents won’t be quite so lucky to recognise the scammers and will give away valuable personal details including their bank account numbers before they realise what they have done.

Police have acknowledged the fraudsters came to their attention earlier this month and are focusing on those who have been scam victims in the past.

The Australian Taxation Office also issued a warning midway through last year about a similar scam affecting those who been tricked into believing they had a tax refund owed to them.

Once again the message to the public is not to believe those who telephone asking for personal details.

Instead those who receive a call from those purporting to be from the tax office should ask for the caller’s name and phone them back through the tax office switchboard.

Everyone should treat their personal information, particularly bank account details, with the greatest care and not give them to anyone, particularly over the telephone.

It’s imperative to be cautious.