Scots farmers warned of rural payment fraudster
Scottish farmers need to be on the look out for a fraudster claiming to work for the government’s Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID).
The RPID Galashiels office has been alerted by farmers that a potential fraudster has been calling claiming to work for the RPID and in one case asking for bank details.
As a result, the government has urged farmers to remain extra vigilant during this time and remember that:
- RPID staff would not ask for customers’ bank details over the phone or by email
- RPID would not change a customer’s bank details through a phone or email request. A robust process is in place to verify such customer requests
Farmers who receive any suspicious phone calls are urged to inform the police and/or their bank, and if they have any concerns about a caller’s identity to contact their local area office for confirmation.