A NEIGHBOUR of an elderly woman who has apparently been targeted by fraudsters is urging people to be aware of the dangers.

Graham Freeman, 69, who lives at Summerhayes in Cam, is urging people to be careful after his 78-year-old next door neighbour received a call from someone claiming to be from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

The man on the phone claimed that the pensioner, who asked to remain anonymous, was owed thousands of pounds by the tax department during the call on Friday morning, December 13.

The individual gave her a reference number and a phone number to call.

But after doubts were raised about the man's credentials, she instead called Mr Freeman, who called the given number himself, posing as her nephew.

“She called us because she always does with things like this,” he said.

“It was an 020 number, from London, and it was a very bad, quiet line. I had a job to hear him. When I questioned him he started being difficult and it began to feel a bit funny and they eventually put the phone down.”

Mr Freeman is convinced it was a scam and annoyed that they had targeted his friend.

“She is very dear to us. She’s getting on a bit but she's still got her wits about her,” he said.

“It upsets me that somebody is trying to pinch her money.”

A Gloucestershire Police spokesman said any suspicion of fraud should be reported immediately to the police via 101 or by calling Action Fraud on 0300 1232040.