Southland woman scammed out of $32,000

A Southland woman who thought she was receiving a $71,000 tax refund was actually falling prey to an India-based scam - to the tune of $32,000.

The woman, who did not want to be named, received a phone call early this month saying she had overpaid tax, but to get it she needed to transfer money into an account through the Western Credit Union.

The first payment, of $290, gradually increased with the promise of a $71,000 refund, Fairfax Media reported.

The man who called said he was from the Justice Department and sounded convincing, she said.

Twenty payments were made to the scammers with all money going overseas to India, she said.

It was her children who raised suspicion after her daughter overheard her on the phone to one of the scammers.

They contacted the Reserve Bank on Friday which said it was a scam and to stop payments - after she had already put $32,000 into the account.

"It's a horrible feeling, I am just gutted. I should have asked for evidence," she said.

- NZPA