Just before Christmas, I received a scam phone call. It started with a pre-recorded voice saying this is an important call from BT to advise that my internet has been compromised.

I was then put through to an operative, with a busy office background sound. She had a heavy Chinese accent and put me through to her “supervisor “ to help me remedy the fault.

He had an Indian accent and asked me to switch off my router for some tests.

It was obviously a scam and I am sure that eventually he would have asked me to confirm my personal banking details or log in to my computer to help me solve this problem.

I said why ddidn’t he do some good with his miserable life, something legal, and he hung up.

These criminal gangs prey on the elderly and have taken thousands of pounds from their bank accounts once they have successfully conned the recipient into divulging personal information through pretending to be, for example, BT, Microsoft, a bank or a pension provider.

I have reported this bogus call to Action Fraud and BT but would ask all readers to advise elderly friends and relatives that bogus phone calls are happening in our area and they should never divulge any personal information over the phone, however convincing the caller may seem.

Ask the caller to send a letter and hang up. Report the bogus call to Action Fraud and BT. 

Mike O’Keefe, Wootton Courtenay.