Orkney residents are being warned about scammers contacting them in order to get access to their bank details. The scammers are very plausible and it is easy to be taken in by them.

OIC Trading Standards Officer, Alison Campbell, said:

“With number spoofing, the scammer is quite likely to draw your attention to the number[on the back of your bank card], in order to gain your trust. If you are in any doubt about a caller’s intentions, you should hang up and wait five minutes before calling your bank (or whichever organisation is claiming to call you). If possible use another phone – but if you don’t have another phone, make sure the line is clear and you hear a dial tone before you call.”

Trading Standards also advises to always be wary about:

• Being asked to provide any secure information such as your PIN number, account numbers etc by an unsolicited caller
• Being asked to move money into another account in order to keep it secure
• Being persuaded not to contact your local branch or to call the bank
• Being told the number the person is calling from is the same as the number on your card – a genuine caller from your bank would have no need to draw your attention to this.

To report instances of number spoofing

contact Action Fraud: http://www. actionfraud.police.uk

contact the Council’s Trading Standards on 01856 873535

email : trading.standards@orkney.gov.uk.