A hoax caller claiming to be from the tax department has been attempting to rip off residents.
The caller claims to be from the tax office and informs those receiving the calls that they are due a tax refund because they always pay their taxes on time.
They are then given a staff ID number and a number to call for any inquiries, Queensland police said.
"Should the victim call this phone number, it is answered by the initial caller with the tax office greeting, giving the impression the refund is legitimate," police said in a statement.
The victim is then called back a few days later and asked to confirm his or her bank details because the initial attempt to pay the refund did not go through.
Detective Superintendent Brian Hay said the caller is from overseas but uses an 02 prefix to give the impression the call is from Australia.
Superintendent Hay warned against giving any personal or financial information to unsolicited callers.
"It is absolutely vital that people treat any unsolicited phone call that seeks their personal or financial information with a high degree of suspicion," he said.
www.news.ninemsn.com.au
