Police have issued some advice about what to look out for if you think you’re being targeted by a scam phone caller.

Fraud over the phone is when a fraudster calls claiming they’re from your bank or some other trusted organisation.

Fraudsters often convince victims by using a fake telephone number and doing some research to find out the victim's basic bank and personal details.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “Remember a genuine bank will never ask you for personal or financial details like your PIN number or full banking password (even by tapping it into your phone keypad).”

Dorset Police have issued some things to look out for when receiving a call from someone you don't know:

1. The caller doesn’t give you time to think, tries to stop you speaking to a family member or friend or is insistent and makes you feel uncomfortable.

2. The caller asks you to transfer money to a new account for fraud reasons.

3. They phone to ask for your 4-digit card PIN or your online banking password. Even if they ask you to give it to them by tapping into the telephone keypad rather than saying the numbers out loud, this is a scam.

4. They ask you to withdraw money to hand over to them for safe-keeping.

5. They may say that you are a victim of fraud and offer to send a courier to your home to collect your cash, PIN, payment card or cheque book.

If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, of any description, contact Action Fraud.

If a crime is in a progress, call the police on the emergency number, 999.