WAVERLEY residents are being warned of a new telephone scam targeting taxpayers and the elderly in particular.

According to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), victims have received a recorded message allegedly from HMRC, stating that it is bringing a lawsuit against them and is going to sue them.

The recipient is asked to phone a certain phone number and press ‘1’ to speak to the officer dealing with the case. The scam is becoming widely reported and seems to be targeting older people.

A spokesman for the government agency said: “HMRC takes security very seriously but you need to be alert. If you cannot verify the identity of the person making the call you should not disclose your personal details.

“You should report these incidents on the Action Fraud website, or call them on 0300 123 2040 (please note this number will be charged at your normal rate). They are open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm.”