Shetlanders are being warned by police and trading standards to stay on their guard against fraudsters carrying out a banking scams by phone.
A number of islanders have reported being called by someone claiming to be from Harrods who then attempts to trick them into disclosing their card details.
The caller claims that someone has bought a high value item from the store using the victim’s credit or debit card and advises them to speak to their bank. When the scam target hangs and phones the bank the caller keeps the line open so that victims are not actually dialling out, and they end up speaking to another person involved in the fraud.
The bank clerk impersonator then tries to talk the victim into disclosing information which will compromise their bank account.
David Marsh, trading standards team leader with Shetland Islands Council, said: “Fortunately the people who have reported these calls to us had not tried to phone their banks, as they did not believe the caller. But the number of reports which we and the local police have received in the past few days suggests that Shetland is being targeted by these fraudsters. If you do need to phone your bank, make sure the line is clear by phoning a friend or relative first.”