Farmers warned of targeted fraud attacks

Police Scotland are warning farmers in Orkney, and across Scotland, be extremely wary of suspicious calls, texts or emails as EU grant payments begin to arrive in bank accounts.

Information about payments, including the recipients’ names and the amount paid, is publicly available, meaning criminals are able to directly target victims and make their approaches appear more convincing.

Police have said that the scam communications will typically claim fraud has been detected on the farmer’s bank account and suggest urgent action is required to safeguard funds. The victim is then encouraged to divulge personal or financial information, or even to transfer money directly into a so-called ‘safe account’.

Police advise anyone who receives a suspicious call or message to hang up the phone and ring their bank to alert them to the scam, using a trusted phone number, such as one from their bank’s official website.