RESIDENTS in Wharfedale and Aireborough are being warned to watch out for a new telephone scam.

The ruse involves people being called up by someone impersonating an officer who tells them that their bank account has been compromised.

The householder is then asked to transfer their money to another account or hand it to a ‘police officer’.

During the call the fraudster will say they are connecting the victim to their bank to confirm what they are being told – but the connection is false.

West Yorkshire Police, which has already had 46 complaints about the scam, are urging residents to hang up on such calls.

Victims should then either wait five minutes, to ensure their landline is clear, before calling their banks, or use a mobile to do so.