A PENSIONER is warning residents to be vigilant after she narrowly avoided being the victim of a phone scam.

Frances Ball, from Freshbrook, received four calls in the space of a week from scammers claiming to be from Sky and asking for personal bank details.

But the savvy 77-year-old refused to give any details out and now wants others to be on their guard against telephone fraud.

Frances said she received a call from a man who said he was with Sky Accounts. But it soon became clear the call was not what it seemed.

“He knew my name, address, the fact that I was a Sky customer and that I paid by direct debit which of course many people do, said Frances. the gentleman said there had been a mistake and they owed me £300.”

The man then asked for Frances’ bank card number to deposit the money into but luckily she saw straight through it.

“I thought, this sounds dodgy. I said they could take my details from my direct debit. Then I hung up.

“I may be old but I’m not stupid,” said Frances,“I called Sky and they said they would never call up and ask for bank details. They also said they didn’t owe me any money.”

A few days later Frances said she received more calls from the same four digit number, again claiming to be from Sky and now saying they owed her amounts ranging from £100 to £300.

“The man was totally credible when he asked for my card number. He sounded very plausible, but I just said my card was downstairs and I was upstairs,” said Frances.

The former RAF air traffic controller now wants to protect others from falling victim to the scam.

“I’m concerned that other people may be taken in by this. I’m quick on the uptake but what if others are not?

“If you live on your own it’s nice to talk to somebody and they take advantage of that.

“I wanted to warn my neighbours, I want to warn other people, it’s happening all over the country and I don’t want these people to take money from anyone.”

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “If you receive a call from someone saying they are from an organisation and you are not sure if they are genuine then please take the caller’s details, hang up and phone the company/organisation to check. Do not give personal, bank or credit card details over the phone. If you feel you have been a victim of fraud call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.”