SCHOOL staff have been warned to be on their guard following an increase in incidents of fraud.

The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) has seen a rise in the volume of reports where schools are the targeted victim.

A school is targeted by a fraudster who claims to be the head teacher. The fraudster contacts a member of staff with responsibility for authorising financial transfers and requests for a one off, often urgent, bank transfer to be made. The amounts requested have been between £8,000 and £10,000.

Contact is made by email and from a spoofed or similar email address to the one the head teacher would use.

Schools have been urged to check their processes and to challenge any financial requests they think may be suspicious.

Anyone who has been affected by this, or any other type of fraud, should report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or go to actionfraud.police.uk.