Telephone scam warning

North Wales Police are urging householders to be vigilant when giving personal details over the telephone.

The warning comes after several reports have been received at the force’s control room in St Asaph that calls are being made by people purporting to be from the bank.

They say they are calling from a Fraud Department who work for several banks and are claiming that over 500 people in North Wales have been targeted over the last week whereby money has been taken from their bank accounts.

The callers are then asking for card details to be given so that subsequent checks and cancellations can be made.

On one particular occasion the caller claimed he was working on behalf of Lloyds TSB. He gave his contact as the main switchboard number for the bank. However, when the victim contacted the bank’s Fraud Department he was told they had no knowledge of any fraud of this scale having taken place.

Police are advising people who receive such calls not to disclose their personal or bank account details and if they have concerns they should contact their bank direct.

If anyone is aware of people carrying out this type of fraud they should report it to North Wales Police, on 101, if calling from Wales, or 0845 607 1001 (Welsh line) 0845 607 1002 (English line) or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.