A BORDERS man has been conned out of £15,000 by a caller claiming to be a cop.

On Thursday the man from Peebles received a telephone call from someone stating to be from the ‘Visa Fraud Squad’ and that his bank account had been compromised.

Just a short time later he received a second call from a man claiming to be an officer from Police Scotland’s Fraud Department.

He was then asked to make five bank transfers into one account, which would ensure that his money was then ‘safe'.

A total of £15,000 was transferred into the account which he thought had been set up by the police officer.

After becoming suspicious the Peebles victim contacted his bank and the police.

Detectives have now launched an investigation into the full circumstances.

Detective Sergeant Neil Drummond from Police Scotland’s Financial Investigation Unit said: “This has been a despicable act that has left the victim understandably distressed.

“I would like to remind the public that police officers have no involvement in someone’s bank accounts, and would never phone up to discuss money transactions.

“Police officers will likely only phone someone to arrange a suitable time to meet in person. If you do receive a phone call from a named officer, and want to be sure you are speaking to someone genuine, you can call us back on 101 and ask to be transferred to that named officer at their relevant department.

“If you receive a call out of the blue claiming you have been a victim of fraud, or that you bank account has been compromised, please take some time to ensure this is legitimate.

"Criminals can use software to manipulate the numbers they call from so that they appear to be a reputable company.

“These criminals can be extremely manipulating and convincing, and if you are ever in any doubt, do not be afraid to hang up and check the legitimacy of the company before phoning them back.

“These types of crimes can affect anyone, however I’d ask that you make friends and relatives aware of these sorts of scams, and be wary that criminals often target the elderly and vulnerable.”

Anyone who thinks they have been a victim of fraud can report it to Police Scotland on 101.