People from Dalkeith are being warned about a cold call scam after one of the local Citizens Advice Bureau's (CAB) own board members was targeted.
The board member received a suspicious call from an unknown mobile number, claiming to be calling from the CAB and offering advice in relation to coronavirus.
The manager of Dalkeith CAB has spoken of her concern that unsuspecting people who could be in need may be targeted.
Julie Podet told Edinburgh Live that Citizens Advice will never cold-call offering advice, and would only ever ring if they were already supporting someone.
She said people should always be suspicious, and ask if they can call back on the official Citizens Advice number if the call is not one they recognise.
"One of our board received a phone call giving her full name and address and the gentleman stated that he was from the CAB.
"She questioned this, and he was saying that due to COVID-19 the CAB was doing no face-to-face and was phoning to offer advice instead," Julie said.
The board member who received the call emailed Julie that same night alerting her to the call.
"It worried me because she was saying it came up on a normal mobile number, a lot of advisers have been working from home so it could come up as a mobile number.
"She said the gentleman was really convincing and a client could think it was us."
Julie said the CAB in Dalkeith was busier now than they were before the pandemic, and just wouldn't be cold calling to offer advice.
She explained people would contact them for help through their advice line or on their website.
With the coronavirus crisis, Julie said more people are needing advice and might receive one of these calls and believe it was a genuine offer of help.
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"If you believe if it is from the CAB, you could hand over bank details. It is quite alarming."
Julie wanted to let people know about the possible scam, and has shared it across Midlothian and also posted messages on Twitter to let people know.
She said anyone in Dalkeith looking for advice could contact the CAB on 0131 660 1636, or use Scotland’s Citizens Advice Helpline on 0800 028 1456
You can also get information on their website.
