CHESHIRE Police have issued a telephone scam warning, with residents having been targeted by fraudsters posing as an internet provider.

A man contacted five victims across different areas of Cheshire, telling them their modem was not compatible with their computer and that the customer owed £200.

He then told victims that a much larger sum had been transferred by mistake, and they needed to pay it back. As a result, two of the five transferred a substantial amount of money to the man.

Peter Lawless, of Cheshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “I want to remind residents to be vigilant when receiving calls from people who claim they are from an internet provider.”

He also offered advice to bear in mind, including the fact that banks will never ask for your card PIN or ask you to withdraw or transfer money.

Residents should always be wary of cold callers, particularly if they request a call back, and should not assume a caller is genuine simply because they hold basic information about them.

Do not be afraid to put the phone down if you are unsure about handing over details.

Anyone who is a victim of this scam should contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, and police on 101.