Scammers are targetting unspecting people out of thousands of pounds - by tricking them into thinking they've been charged for Amazon Prime.

Police in Lanarkshire have issued a warning to locals over the scam, with over 200 cases of this particular fraud being reported in the last two months alone.

They say that members of the public are being targetted with automatic calls stating that the recipient has been charged for an Amazon prime subscription, as a way to lure them into giving away their online banking account.

They victim is given the option to cancel the charge, which connects them directly with the fraudster - who is posing as an Amazon customer service representative.

The fraud then urges the recipeint to download an application called Team Viewer, which allows remote access to the victim's computer while they log into their online banking.

Glasgow Times: Fraudsters are scamming people out of thousandsFraudsters are scamming people out of thousands

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Other variants of the crime involve fraudsters stating the recipient is due a refund for an unauthorised transition on their Amazon account.

A statement from Police Scotland said: "Since September 2019, 200 Amazon-related crime reports have been linked to this type of fraud, with victim losses totalling over £400,000."

They advised: "Always question uninvited approaches in case it’s a scam.

"Instead, contact the company directly using a known email or phone number.

"Have the confidence to refuse unusual requests for personal or financial information.

"It’s easy to feel embarrassed when faced with unexpected or complex conversations but it’s okay to stop the discussion if you do not feel in control of it.

"Never install any software or visit a website as a result of a cold call. Unsolicited requests for remote access to your computer should always raise a red flag."