• ABOUT 10 years ago I was scammed out of several thousand pounds by a caller claiming to be a police officer.

He informed me that fraudsters had attempted to use my bank account, and had all my account details.

With hindsight, neither I nor my friends could figure out how I had fallen for the scam. The basic reason was that the scammers used a trick on my landline.

Having given me authentic-sounding details – name, badge number, status, home police station – the caller told me to check his identity by calling the local police station, or 999.

What I didn’t know then was that because the first call was not hung up at the other end, my outgoing call “to the police” went straight back to the scammers. An accomplice “verified” everything, and they had me in their net.

Last week somebody attempted a very similar scam. The caller informed me that he had arrested a young man who claimed to be related to me, and who had a cloned version of my bank card in his possession.

Once again, convincing details were supplied and I was invited to check them by calling the police. But this time I knew the trick, and didn’t fall for the story.

Once the scammer realised that I wasn’t taken in, he began abusing me in language I won’t repeat.

Please, CNJ readers, especially those of you who still have landlines, note that this old scam is still alive and kicking. Do not to fall for it.

In these days of spoofed phone numbers and leaked or stolen personal information, the police can’t easily track those responsible. Our best protection is to be aware.

MARGARET WILLIAMSON
Address supplied