East Lothian woman conned out of more than £10,000 in cryptocurrency scam weeks before Christmas

A woman has lost more than £10,000 after being conned in a cryptocurrency scam just weeks before Christmas.

The 38-year-old was contacted by someone claiming to be a digital currency trader and was persuaded to download a mobile app to transfer funds in exchange for the virtual coins.

The victim was convinced to make the transactions several times between September and November, losing a five-figure sum of money in total.

But then it was revealed the scheme was a fraud and the woman, from Haddington in East Lothian, called the police.

The victim has been offered advice and inquiries are ongoing, with officers warning members of the public to be vigilant about scam calls.

Detective sergeant Declan Hogg said: “Do not trust any unexpected correspondence and never pass your personal or financial details to anyone, unless you are certain who they are and why they require that information.

“If you feel the need to reply to correspondence to check the authenticity of a contact, please only use the company’s verified official website and the communication methods detailed upon it.

“Especially where money is being requested, be it physically withdrawing it from the bank or the electronic transferring of it, always stop, think and check with a friend, relative or neighbour before taking any action.

“Please be careful and vigilant when it comes to financial service providers or adverts on social media offering high-value returns for investments in shares or cryptocurrency.

“If a deal is too good to be true, it usually is. Check the company’s details with the Financial Conduct Authority to ensure they are genuine.”