BANKIES have been warned to be on their guard against online scammers. 

Trading Standards urged residents who use Gumtree and Facebook to sell items online not to fall victim to advance fee fraud where sellers receive an email confirming the sale of the goods but advising a courier will collect the goods on the buyer’s behalf.

The seller is then asked to pay the courier fee but once the payment is made, the item is not picked up and the money paid for the courier is lost.

Trading Standards officers say residents should be wary when buyers offer to buy items at full price without viewing them and urge sellers to check the validity of the buyer before parting with any money. 

Locals should avoid paying an advanced fee, arrange their own courier and check phone numbers and email addresses, as online feedback will give useful information about recent transactions.

Councillor Thomas Rainey, depute convener of corporate services, said: “In the run up to Christmas when everyone is feeling the pinch, it’s easy to look for ways to cut back and save extra money. I would urge residents not to engage in any business that you have not prearranged and never give out personal information to anyone over the phone or online.”

Meanwhile, the group have also received calls from concerned residents and their families saying they have been contacted by fraudsters claiming to be from Scottish Water or the government.

West Dunbartonshire Council said an elderly couple who received the call were told chemicals had been identified in his water supply and asked the resident go to a specific web address for more information.

The resident became concerned and asked if they could call back when his daughter was home. The number given is now known to be false.

Scottish Water have confirmed they would never ask residents to access their website and say they are aware of a bogus telephone scam which is currently active in the West of Scotland.

Fraudsters are also said to be targeting locals in a bid to have them repay bogus debts through online vouchers.

In some cases, the victims are told to make payment by purchasing iTunes vouchers to the value of the “debt”, then providing the voucher code to the scammers who, with this code, can then access the cash value without being traced. 

Councillor Kath Ryall, convener of corporate services, said: “It’s very sad that we continue to hear of vulnerable people being scammed out of their money. 

"I’d like to thank our Trading Standards team for helping to raise awareness of these types of scams, and hopefully it will remind us all that if something sounds too good to be true then it usually is. 

"Please also be on alert for elderly relatives or vulnerable people that you know who may be targeted by scammers.”

To report a scam to Trading Standards or get further advice call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or email trading.standards@west-dunbarton.gov.uk.