A SPATE of scam calls from people claiming to be from BT have been reported across Dorset.

In one incident which is being investigated by Dorset Police, a couple lost £24,000 after responding to a call from people who said they were from BT.

The calls, which have been received from a range of different phone numbers, often suggest that the person’s computer has been hacked and ask for permission to access their computer.

BT have said that scam calls are “an ongoing issue” and urged people never to share any of their personal details.

People have reported receiving multiple calls a day with some being told that they had been hacked from California.

Almost 1,000 people in Dorset are recorded by Trading Standards as being victims of scam calls with the service’s manager, Ivan Hancock, describing it as “a miserable situation”.

The organisation is working with more than 100 people across the county who are repeat victims of hoaxes.

One person who received four calls in two days urged people to “steer clear” of providing any information to anyone who calls up claiming to be from BT.

They said that a person claiming to be called Ella phoned and told them that they needed to log into their account to resolve a problem.

In one case, which police in Bridport are investigating, a couple lost £24,000 to a caller who claimed to be from BT and said that their computer had a problem with viruses.

“Unfortunately this is an ongoing issue,” a BT spokesman said. “We are not aware of it being particularly prevalent at the moment.

“However, people should be on their guard for fraudsters who pretend to be from BT.

“Our advice to people who receive these calls is to never give away your BT customer number or any other personal details.

“We also suggest that people shred all of their bills once they have been sorted to make sure their details cannot be accessed.”

Bt provides a range of advice for people who have been contacted by scam callers online at bt.com/scams

Scams can also be reported to Citizens Advice.

Last year, Dorset Police joined a national scheme aimed at linking with Trading Standards and banks to identify fraud as it is taking place and before any money is handed over.

A police spokesman said: “Increasingly fraud is becoming more complex and deceptive, much of which is targeted at vulnerable and elderly people.

“The impact of fraud on victims is not only financial.

“The emotional impact is significant and includes guilt, misplaced trust and diminished confidence, which can have detrimental effects on the physical and mental health of the victim, as well as increased social isolation.”