POLICE in Fife have issued a public warning after a 65-year-old woman fell victim to a telephone scam.

Last Tuesday, an unknown male contacted the woman at her home in Windygates.

He claimed to represent Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and asked that she pay an outstanding tax bill amounting to a four-figure sum of money. She paid the sum before realising it was a scam.

The manner in which this crime was committed was unusual as the scammer also stated that if she could not pay in cash, she could pay in iTunes vouchers.

Sergeant Craig Fyall said: “The advice is simple, if you receive a telephone call or email requesting money, do not pay.

"You need to check and be satisfied that any request for payment is genuine."