DORSET Police are warning about a potentially serious scam that occurred this week to a Beaminster woman.

The woman received a phone call from a female purporting to be from Nationwide Building Society and telling her they were extending their current bonus scheme to include debit cards but to participate she needed new bank cards and these would be issued to her over the next few days.

Police Community Support Officer Amanda King said: "The woman asked the female other questions relating to other bank services and the responses given were plausible and so the female appeared both professional and convincing.

"A few days later the lady received another phone call from the same female again claiming to be from the Nationwide and asking her if she had received her new bank cards yet. When she replied that she had not the female advised her that they would be hand delivered shortly as they had someone delivering to two other addresses in that area.

"A few minutes later a man arrived at the lady’s house “to deliver the cards” but he said he required her old cards before he could provide her with the new ones. The lady questioned him regarding this but eventually gave him her cards and was given the two new bank cards and signed a piece of paper on a clip board to say she had received them and then he left.

"On checking the new bank cards she realised that something was amiss and they did not look genuine and so she contacted the Nationwide Bank and the bank confirmed the cards were fake and put a block on her account.

Please be aware that banks will never hand deliver bank cards and pick up old cards for disposal.

"If you are suspicious about a phone call you receive from your “bank” ask the caller to send you information by post and remember never to give out any personal details over the telephone.

"Please also ask the caller for their name and then call your bank using their official telephone number (obtained from an old bank statement or other official paperwork) and verify that the caller is an employee of the bank and that they have a record of the telephone call.

"Remember that you should never give out your bank details to anyone who calls you or send bank cards anywhere or give them to anyone."

If you have been a victim of a similar scam please contact Dorset Police on the non-emergency 101 number or report it on online @ https://www.dorset.police.uk/do-it-online/