Police warning over phone scam

Monday 31st December 2007

POLICE in Midlothian have issued a warning to residents to be vigilant against a new premium-rate telephone scam operating in the region.

Officers from Lothian and Borders Police and Midlothian trading standards said they were investigating the scam, which encourages people to phone a premium rate number after they receive a bogus mail notification. The cards claim that there is a non-existent parcel which mail couriers were unable to deliver and urges residents to phone an expensive phone line to claim their package.

Community police inspector John McGill urged anyone who gets one of the cards not to call the 090 number. He added: "I would like to make householders aware of this scam and ask them to make sure they do not fall foul of it."