CLACKS residents are being urged to be on alert as phone scammers have begun using another fake number to try and con them of their money.

Last week, the Advertiser warned Wee County residents of yet another phone scam, with conmen attempting to scare one woman into paying nearly £3,000.

However, since last week's story, a new phone number has appeared with a number of people contacting the Advertiser to say that they had been contacted via the number.

The fake number, which should not be answered to, is 07537121514.

A Tillicoultry lady, who wished to remain anonymous, contacted the Advertiser after a voice message was left on her telephone, claiming to be from HMRC.
She explained the quality of the recording was poor, but she could pick up enough to understand she was being pursued for an outstanding tax bill.
The caller said there was a warrant out for her arrest and that the authorities would come for her if she did not return the call and settle the bill.
When she pressed zero to call back, a man with a strong foreign accent and poor English attempted to bully her into paying out close to £3,000.
She said: “He wasn’t nice on the phone and told me not to speak until he had finished.
“He said that if it wasn’t dealt with there and then – the warrant was already in place and the police would be here in half an hour to arrest me and I would be held in custody for 72 hours.
“He even gave me a case number and an ID number and a reference number.”
Despite her shock and initial panic, she was not fooled into paying up, but fears isolated elderly people may be easier targets.
Once the conversation ended, the woman quickly phoned her daughters who checked the number the call came from and confirmed it was indeed a scam.
The woman added: “It was quite intimidating on the phone, he was very aggressive when he was speaking.”
It is understood the wider area is being targeted by the conmen, similar reports have surfaced on social media over the past week and police in Fife have also issued a warning.
There may be slight variations on the scam, including calls regarding pensions.
According to officers, scammers often tell their victims they can rake some of the money back if they pay through iTunes vouchers – something the HMRC would never ask for.
The call came from 020 8077 0312 and users of the website who-called.co.uk have rated it dangerous and shared similar stories.
One commenter said: “Like a fool, I called back and was told that I was going to be arrested for tax evasion. I’m afraid I went to pieces at that point.
“Fortunately he then asked if I am self employed or drawing a pension. When I said that he should know that he became aggressive and the penny dropped!
“Nevertheless, it was horrible – I am middle aged and relatively strong – it left me in a mild state of shock.
“Don’t be taken in.”