‘They caught me, so watch out...’

A SCOTS policeman yesterday issued a stark warning about falling for telephone scammers – after he fell victim himself.

Sergeant Ross McCartney gave his computer details to conmen in June after they phoned asking about his broadband.

The community officer told his local council on Monday that they should remain vigilant against fraudsters as a wave of telephone banking scams sweeps the north-west of Scotland.

He urged victims to report the crimes to the police to create a profile of the swindlers in the national system.

The officer, who serves in Fort William, Inverness-shire, said: ‘It is easy for anyone to get caught out by them. They are very convincing. I was in the house three months ago when the phone went. The man on the other end told me he was from BT, and that I had slow broadband.

‘I listened to him and he explained how to check things on my laptop.’

The man then told Sergeant McCartney how to keep tabs on his broadband speed and offered to take his details to look at his laptop thoroughly.

Mr McCartney said: ‘I agreed. What happens is, they say, “You go away and make yourself a cup of tea and we will ring you back.” While you are away, the fraudsters are clearing out your bank account. As I put down the phone I thought, “What have I done?”. I immediately disconnected the router and the laptop.’

The Lochaber area alone has seen almost £100,000 of cash lost to electronic fraudsters over the past year, according to a recent Highland Council report.

Chief Superintendent John McKenzie of Police Scotland Safer Communities said: ‘We are carrying out a range of activities in order to reach as many people as possible because bogus callers and rogue traders are indiscriminate. They will call at any house looking to con occupants.’