Woman conned out of almost £20,000

A WOMAN has been conned out of nearly £20,000 in a phone scam.

The woman, from Dumfries and Galloway, was phoned at home by a person claiming to be from Royal Bank of Scotland, and was told that someone had tried to withdraw £5,000 from her account, police said.

She was asked to confirm her bank details and when she refused, the caller told her to phone the bank herself and confirm that the call was genuine.

But the original caller did not hang up, meaning that when the woman dialled for the bank she was still connected to the scam call, Dumfries and Galloway Police said.

A police spokesman said: “Nearly £20,000 has been taken from her account by fraudulent means.”

Police are appealling for information on the theft.