POLICE in West Dunbartonshire are warning the public to be aware of bogus phone calls from people claiming to be from phone or broadband providers after an Alexandria woman nearly fell victim to scammers.

The woman contacted police to report a suspicious phone call where they were told there was a problem with their router and were asked for their personal details.

The fraudster also asked the woman to switch on their webcam and hold their bank card up to the camera, at which point the woman became suspicious and hung up.

Inspector Mo Boyle from the Community Engagement Team said: “Bogus callers are often very believable and they are skilled in what they do.

“Unfortunately, telephone scams are becoming more commonplace and people can be caught out by the convincing nature of the person on the other end of the line.

“Thankfully on this occasion, the fraudster did not get any money, but we are taking this opportunity to remind people to stay vigilant and to think twice about unsolicited phone calls, especially if they are asking for personal information or offering something that sounds to be too good to be true.”

Further tips on protecting yourself from phone fraud: - Don’t give out any personal information unless you are the one who made the call and you are certain of the identity of the person you are speaking to.

- Don’t give out your credit card or bank card details to strangers on the telephone. - Never tell somebody your bank PIN number, even if they claim to be the bank or police. If the caller is genuine they will never ask for this information.

- Never send money to anyone who claims to have a prize for you.

Police urge anyone who experiences similar calls to follow the tips above and to report the matter via 101.