PHONE scammers targeted a Mauchline pensioner by claiming she could claim back thousands of pounds.

The 76 year old woman received a call on Thursday July 14 from someone claiming to be from Halifax bank.

The bogus caller attempted to get the woman to hand over her bank details.

The man, calling himself Jack, said that she was due £2,000 back from the bank and that he would send a named person to her house to give her the money in person later that afternoon.

The suspicious customer immediately smelled a rat, and when she contacted the bank it was confirmed to be a scammer.

Police were also called to investigate.

A Halifax spokesperson said: “Halifax takes the security of its customers very seriously. In addition to using the latest security measures, we invest heavily in educating our customers about scams both through direct messages and via government and industry initiatives.

“We encourage any customer who believes that they have been the victim of fraud to contact us at the earliest opportunity, so that we can provide the appropriate support.”

East Ayrshire Council's Regulatory Services Manager,Paul Todd said: “July is scam awareness month and Trading Standards are teaming up with Citizens Advice to ensure that people know how to protect themselves from unscrupulous scammers.

“Nearly half of the UK adult population has been targeted by a scam. Every year, 3.2 million adults – one in 15 people – across the country fall victim to a scam involving deceptive unsolicited mailings, phone calls, or emails, which are designed to con victims of their cash. UK consumers lose around a staggering £3.5 billion to scams every year.

“You should never give out personal information such as bank details over the phone to a cold caller. Unscrupulous callers could be looking to get access to important personal information in order to use them for illegal purposes.

“Never be rushed or flustered into making a decision or giving information over the phone. If you feel uncomfortable just end the call.

“Most importantly talk to someone you trust if you think you have been targeted by a scammer. It is essential that we get a full picture of current scams in circulation to help protect vulnerable people within our communities.

“To find out more about scams, to share your story or learn how to protect yourself, your friends and family check out https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scams-awareness-month/ or call the Trading Standards Service on 01563 576602."