The Neighbourhood Alert and Neighbourhood Watch Scotland has highlighted a bank transfer scam currently in use, which people should be aware of.

Neighbourhood Watch Scotland was alerted to the scam by Fettes Sawmill Ltd (based in Muir of Ord), whose full account of the incident was posted to their Facebook page.

For details of the scam, please visit the Fettes Sawmill Ltd Facebook page, or view a full transcript below.

Posted by Fettes Sawmill Ltd on Tuesday 8^th September:

“Just a heads up to all businesses out there!

We have been involved in a scam, quite clever really.

Man called on Friday wanting a few bits of timber and wanted to pay by bank transfer, we gave him our bank details as normal.

Saturday he called in a state saying his wife had paid us £4160 in error and wanted us to refund the money. He called several times, saying it was paid by bank transfer and he needed the money to pay another business. He was told that we needed proof that it was him that paid in the money and that the money would be returned. More calls on Sunday harassing us to pay back the money. I started to get suspicious, the money was pending in the bank.

Monday morning he called again and when I spoke to him he said it was cash that was paid in, and if I didn’t refund it he was going to get lawyers etc involved. He was told again I needed proof.

Went to the bank to check where payment came from, and we discovered it was a cheque paid in through a cash dispenser machine in Birmingham.

The scam is they harass you over the weekend as the bank isn’t updated until Monday night, the money is showing as pending, so you think it is a bank transfer, which is non returnable, you return the money, and the cheque bounces all the way back to Birmingham and your left £4160 out of pocket.Thankfully one of the girls got his mobile number and when I called him he was left in no doubt what I thought of him.Cheque bounced on Tuesday!

Please keep a look out as they are very persuasive, and convincing.

We have been lucky!

Please feel free to share and get this out there!”

Anyone who wishes to report any suspicious activity should contact Police Scotland by phone: 101.

If you feel scared or threatened, call 999 and ask for the police.

Alternatively, Police Scotland has provided a list of resources with information, help and advice on avoiding scammers, including:

To report a matter to Trading Standards Scotland, contact their team by phone: 0808 164 6000
Report scammers and fraudsters ANONYMOUSLY to Crimestoppers by phone: 0800 555 111, or through their online form.
Free message alerts from key information providers regarding incidents and crime prevention in your area are available through Neighbourhood Watch Scotland.
Information on some of the most common fraud techniques can be found in The Little Book of Big Scams (available to view or download as a pdf from the Metropolitan Police website).
For advice on your consumer rights, contact Advice Direct Scotland by phone: 0808 164 6000.
Are you a victim or witness to a crime looking for free, confidential support? Contact Victim Support Scotland by phone: 0800 160 1985, or through their online form and webchat.