Vulnerable pensioners aged 79 & 78 have been cheated of £36,000 by scammers claiming to be from their bank.
Police in Renfrewshire, Scotland, said it’s the worst they have investigated this year.
The pensioners were tricked into transferring two payments of £18,000 over the telephone.
Unfortunately, by the time the shell-shocked couple discovered they had been scammed out of their savings, it was too late.
Inspector Cassie Glass, from Johnstone’s Community Policing team, said: “A couple, aged 78 and 79, received two calls from an unknown male claiming to be from their bank, the Clydesdale Bank.
“The suspect first called the landline then a mobile number linked to the couple, claiming they owed money for an unauthorised transaction.
“Over two phone calls, two separate transactions were made to the suspects of £18,000 totalling to £36,000.”
Upon tracing the number used by the scammers, the distressed couple discovered that the conmen had gone to the effort of disguising the number under the name ‘Clydesdale Bank’.
Inspector Glass says it is imperative that people trust no one when it comes to online transactions.
“This was not a case of a private, unknown or withheld number,” she added.
“These crooks have gone under the name of Clydesdale Bank, which has completely tricked the couple.
“You should never ever agree to transfer money over the phone.
“It is so important that we spread this message so that something like this doesn’t happen again.” This recent scam has targeted pensioners in Kilbarchan Road, Bridge of Weir. Sadly it’s the latest in a spate of incidents related to scammers targeting vulnerable elderly members of the community.
Officers are appealing for information after a 76-year-old in Paisley was swindled out of a four-figure sum.
The phoney scammers told the victims they would be eligible for compensation in relation to a timeshare company that had gone into liquidation, however, the claims were totally false.
Targeting elderly residents, Inspector Glass maintains, is a particularly callous act.
“These people are going out of their way to target elderly people,” she added.
“It’s a disgusting and despicable crime.
“With pensioners, this money could easily be their life savings.
“People need to be so careful and not agree to any transactions that may seem suspicious.”
If you think you have been contacted by the same scammers, you must call police immediately.
For more information regarding this article or assistance in any other timeshare related issues please contact the TCA on 01908 881058 or email: info@TimeshareConsumerAssociation.org.uk