POLICE are warning people across Wiltshire to be on alert after a telephone conman scammed a woman into giving him her card details which led to him taking £1,800 from her account.

On Friday (July 29) a woman received a call from a man who said he was calling from Wiltshire Council, claiming to be from the council tax department and was very convincing.

He told her that her installments had recently increased and because of that, she was out of sync with her payments.

He continued, saying that she owed just £17 and could pay it over the phone straight away if she provided her card details.

The woman accepted but shortly after she received a call from her bank informing her that somebody had booked an airline ticket costing £1,800.

She has now closed the account and the bank has agreed to refund the money.

Police said the council tax department at Wiltshire Council would always send bills for outstanding payments and would not ordinarily contact customers directly by phone for money unless there had been some previous contact.

A police spokesperson added: "Please be extra vigilant when answering the phone – do not give out any personal details or banking details over the phone, and if you suspect the call to be suspicious, hang up immediately and report it to Action Fraud via 0300 123 2040 or visit visit www.actionfraud.police.uk."