FARMERS and landowners should be wary of fraudsters in the run up to Christmas.

Single Payments are made fromDecember 1 and over the last two years phone scammers have conned victims out of hundreds and thousands of pounds.

Dorothy Fairburn, North regional director for the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), said: “A lot of information as to who receives the Single Payment is now publically available, which makes farmers and landowners increasingly vulnerable.”

Financial Fraud Action UK’s (FFA UK's) intelligence unit – the Financial Fraud Bureau – said fraudsters usually telephone their victim, posing as their bank, the police or another trusted organisation. Typically, they claim that fraud has been detected on the farmer’s business or personal account .

The victim is then tricked into handing over key financial information or transferring funds into a "safe account" which is controlled by the criminal. Once stolen, the money is moved quickly out of the criminal’s bank account, making it difficult to recover.

The scams have been nationwide but Yorkshire, Lanarkshire and the Scottish Borders have been particular targets.

Katy Worobec, director of FFA UK said: “Be immediately suspicious if you get a call and are asked to give out personal or financial information, or are asked to transfer money into other accounts. If in doubt, hang up the phone, leave it five minutes so that the call has definitely terminated and then ring back the organisation the caller claims to be from, but on a number that you know and trust.”

FFAUK advice on avoiding phone scams.

Be wary of unsolicited approaches by phone and cold callers who suggest you hang up and call them back. Fraudsters can keep your phone line open by not putting down the receiver at their end.

Banks and the police never:

o phone to ask for your four digit card PIN or online banking password

o ask you to withdraw money and hand it to them for safe-keeping

o ask you to transfer money to a new account for fraud reasons, even if they say it is in your name

o send someone to your home to collect your cash, PIN, payment card or cheque book if you are a victim of fraud

o ask you to purchase goods using your card and then hand them over for safe- keeping.

Never disclose your:

o four digit card PIN to anyone, including the bank or police

o full password or online banking codes

o personal details unless you are sure who you are talking to.

it takes two people to terminate a call. If you feel something is suspicious or feel vulnerable, hang up, wait five minutes to clear the line, or where possible use a different phone line, then call your bank or card issuer on their advertised number to report the fraud.

If you don’t have another telephone to use, call someone you know first to make sure the telephone line is free.

Your bank will never ask you to check if the number showing on your telephone display matches their registered telephone number. The display cannot be trusted, as the caller can alter the number showing.

Criminals may already have basic information about you (name, address, account details). Do not assume a caller is genuine because they have these details or because they claim to represent a legitimate organisation.