DORSET Trading Standards has warned people to never give their bank details out if they suspect a scam caller.

Telephone and internet scams are extremely common and many homeowners are often contacted by bogus companies who try to obtain their personal bank details.

It comes after pensioners hit out at scammers who tried to trick people into believing they had a virus on their computers.

A Weymouth resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, recently complained about receiving a withheld telephone call from a woman claiming to be from his bank.

She claimed to need his personal bank details for market research purposes. He said: “She was very well spoken and requested to speak to my wife.

“When I told her she was unavailable she informed me that she was doing market research on behalf of my bank.

“She then asked me to provide my personal bank details.

“I immediately became suspicious and when I asked her what bank she was calling from she was unable to give me an answer.”

Dorset Trading Standards service manager, Ivan Hancock said: “Calls like these are quite common I would urge people to never give out their bank details unless they are absolutely certain that they know who they are speaking to.

“Any reputable company will be quite happy for you to give them a call back and most banks stress that they will never ask for your details over the phone.

“It is most concerning when you hear from people who have already parted with their bank details. If this happens then you should contact your bank immediately.”

In August Yvonne Griffiths, 65, was targeted by scammers who tried to urge her to buy £109 of bogus anti-virus software.

The retired Osmington resident said she has received six phone calls in three days telling her to turn her computer on because it has a fault.

In total, she says she has received at least 20 calls from people who say they are calling from the Microsoft Technical Department. She added that the people at the other end of the phone are ‘bullying, persistent and intimidating’ and is worried more vulnerable and elderly people could fall prey to the con.

Mrs Griffiths said: “They start off by saying: ‘Your computer is showing errors’.

“The first chap I spoke to was very bullying and started to get abusive and would swear.

“He kept saying: ‘I’m going to help you with your computer’ and was asking me to turn my computer on.”

Scams will usually come from a company or person you’ve never heard of before by post, email or telephone. They will generally promise extravagant rewards, prizes or ask you to pay for something up front. Some may even pretend to be your bank and ask you for your bank account details.