FRAUDSTERS have scammed farmers out of £500,000 in South Lancashire.

The NFU says farmers have received telephone calls claiming their account has been compromised and advising them to contact their bank to transfer their money out of the account.

The victim is asked to phone the bank using the published number on the back of their debit card to confirm that the call is genuine – but the fraudster holds the line open to intercept this call.

The farmer is then asked to provide internet banking login credentials, customer numbers, passwords or card and reader codes to transfer the money to another account. In reality, the fraudsters transfer the money into their own account.

Adam Briggs, NFU Lancashire county adviser, said: “If you are contacted by somebody claiming to be from your bank, always call your bank back on a different phone line.

“Any NFU members concerned about this scam or fearful they may have become a victim, should contact NFU Call First on 0870-845-8458.”