A Scots woman was duped out of more than £1000 by a cold call scammer in Dumbarton.
Officers from Police Scotland are warning the public to be on alert after the 53-year-old received a phone call from a male pretending to be from the fraud department at her bank.
The callous criminal said he was ringing in relation to alleged fraudulent activity on her bank account.
The woman was led to believe that her bank account had been compromised and that her money should be transferred into another account to safeguard her.
A four figure sum of money was then transferred to an account that turned out to be fraudulent.
Cops in Argyll & West Dunbartonshire have shared the tale of woe in the hope that other Scots don't end up suffering a similar fate.
Sergeant Gall, Safer Communities at Dumbarton, said “A number of telephone and internet scams have come to light, especially over the last few months as people spend more time online. These scams are very upsetting for the people involved.
"Those affected believe that the calls are being made from their own banks. They trust that the information they are given is correct and that the person on the other end of the phone is trying to help them.
“I’d ask the public to be alert to anyone who calls them out of the blue and take time to think about what they are being asked to do.
"Note the details, stop and #takefive to think about what you are being asked for. If you are unsure, discuss it with a friend or relative before committing to transactions or providing your personal details.
“If you receive such a call and have concerns, contact your bank and contact police.”
