RESIDENTS in South Gloucestershire are being advised to stay on their guard after a couple in their 80s were targeted by a phone scam.

The couple contacted police after receiving a call earlier this month, claiming they owed money and threatening them with arrest if they did not pay.

Thankfully they did not pay any money, but were left worried and distressed by the call.

A woman from Bristol, also in her 80s, was also a target of the scam at the beginning of the month, and was persuaded to pay several thousand pounds after receiving a number of calls from a man claiming to be from HMRC, instructing her to transfer cash without telling her family or the bank.

The calls were followed by someone claiming to be a police officer, who said she could be arrested if she did not make further payments.

The scam was finally reported to police when she mentioned the 'tax fines' to a relative. An investigation is underway.

Police have advised for anyone who receives this kind of call to end it immediately and never phone them back on a number displayed or any number they give you.

Anyone concerned about their tax status is asked to contact HMRC directly using details from www.gov.uk.

There’s information on the Action Fraud website, www.actionfraud.police.uk about this and other scams, and on www.avonandsomerset.police.uk.