A sick crook conned a Scots pensioner out of £30k in what police are calling a new phone scam.
Cops say the 87-year-old male OAP in Fife was left counting the cost after being targeted by the con artist.
The vulnerable victim was convinced to urgently send over the cash after being told it was to 'avoid a loss'.
Now police are appealing to the public to be on the look out for the new type of scam.
Inspector Kirk Donnelly said: “We have seen an increase in reports of vulnerable and elderly members of our communities being targeted by this sort of telephone scam.
"Individuals from either within or outside the UK claim to be from reputable companies such as banks or building societies, Amazon, Microsoft, Inland Revenue and many more.
“Scammers will likely report a fault with a computer or the internet, an accidental renewal of a subscription or problem with a bank accounts which they allege put your money at risk.
“These callers can often be aggressive and intimidating, placing pressure on people to do ask they ask.
He added:“A number of methods are used to obtain personal details such as using a third party app or website to remotely access your computer or bank account. This can often be followed with a demand for a payment to avoid alleged legal action.
“Be suspicious of all such calls and always make every effort to ensure that the person at end of the line is who they claim to be, represent who they claim to represent and are legitimate and reputable.
“If you are unsure, take details of their company so you can check their credentials. You can even take a number with a view to checking out their details and calling the company they say they are from at a later time using a number you have obtained independently.”
