HOUSEHOLDERS have been warned to be careful when giving financial and personal details over the phone to callers claiming to be from well-known companies.

The warning comes from North Yorkshire Police, after an incident in Pickering when a person handed over several hundred pounds to a fraudulent caller.

The caller, claiming to be from BT, allegedly tried to persuade the householder that their account was overdue for payment.

As part of the scam the caller ‘proved’ they were from BT by saying that they would disconnect the phone line so the customer would not be able to make out going calls, before reconnecting the line.

In reality, the caller does not disconnect the line but simply presses the mute button, making it appear as though the line has cut out.

In the case in Pickering, on Tuesday (June 2), the homeowner was taken in by the caller and gave their credit card details, from which a substantial sum was then removed.

PC Terry Triffitt of Pickering police said: "BT informed us that they would not cut anyone off using this type of procedure.

"This case highlights the lengths that criminals will go to invent a highly believable ploy to get you to part with your banking details.

"It is always better to be safe than sorry and a quick call to BT customer services will clear up whether or not this type of call is genuine or bogus."

A spokesman for BT said: "We never ask for bank details over the phone. If anyone does receive a call requesting bank details, they should treat it with suspicion and report it to the police."

As well as reporting an incident like this to the police, anyone who may have been contacted by someone trying to commit this type of fraud is asked to contact the BT Nuisance Calls Bureau on 0800-411422, so that the scale of the problem can be identified.

If anyone is aware of people carrying out this type of fraud they should report it to North Yorkshire Police on 0845-60-60-247 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.