Latest scam to target East Ren residents

Thousands of pounds have been handed over to fraudsters posing as telephone banking employees using different tricks to obtain your private security details.

The common fraud involves residents receiving a call from a person alleging to be from the bank, claiming that their account is under attack and telling the resident to hang up and phone the number on the back of their card to confirm they are genuine.

The fraudsters don’t hang up at the other end and carry on the scam by pretending to be from the bank and obtaining card security details to allow them to steal money from the account.

Area commander for East Renfrewshire, chief inspector Angela Carty said: “It is important that everyone is aware that banks and building societies will never ask anyone to disclose their PIN number or to transfer money to another account. They will never come to your home to collect money, cards or cheques or ask you to purchase goods using your card.

“Everyone should be wary of cold callers who ask you to call them back and of fraudsters keeping your telephone line open when you think they have hung up.

“It is important to remember never to disclose any details such as PIN numbers, passwords and banks details to anyone on the telephone and that you can terminate telephone calls at any time. If you are suspicious of any telephone call please contact the police by calling 101.”

If you receive any unexpected calls claiming to be from the bank or building society hang up and go into your local branch to report the incident.

Further information at: www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/prevention