Phonescamwarningafterwomanconned

Police in Wishaw have warned the public about telephone scams after a woman was conned out of cash.

On March 2, a woman in Newmains was contacted by a man stating that he was a police officer who told her that he had a warrant for her arrest and she would have to pay £798 to stop the police coming to her house.

The woman was distressed and upset and paid the money via her online banking where she transferred to the account specified by the suspect.

Sergeant Jim Mutter, from Wishaw Community Police team, appealed to anyone with information to come forward as well as giving advice to members of the public to stop something like this happening to them.

He said: “I would like to make the community aware of this latest scam and inform them that under no circumstances will the police phone you and ask you to make any payment.

“Telephone fraud is becoming increasingly common and the criminals who carry it out more persuasive and deceitful.

“It involves you receiving a call from someone who claims to be from a trustworthy organisation such as your bank, the local police or a computer company such as Microsoft – and skilfully manipulated into a position where you can be defrauded.

“Fraudsters can achieve this be persuading you that they are authentic and that they are calling to help you solve an urgent problem.

“They can also make themselves appear real by using technology which spoofs real phone numbers.”

Sgt Mutter added that a bank or payment card company will never ask you to transfer money out of your account to another that you do not recognise, nor will they request your pin.