‘IF it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is’ is the message police in West Devon are giving to residents after a number of scams have been reported in the area.

One elderly woman from Tavistock, who was looking to get a loan, was scammed out of more than £1,000 recently in ‘set up fees’ and various other payments allegedly needed to put the loan in place.

After being denied a loan from the bank, the lady searched online for a loan company and applied to one, which police said had been linked to another company known by the fraud office.

They approved the loan but said in order for the lady to receive it, she needed to pay a set up fee, which she sent, then they asked her to pay an affordability fee, which she also paid, then a currency transfer fee and a PPI payment, all of which she sent via bank transfer.

West Devon PCSO Mark Canvin, who dealt with the lady, said: ‘She needed a loan to survive and couldn’t get one from the bank so she looked online. She was getting loans from friends to pay the various fees and ended up paying out around £1,200 — she was completely tapped out.’

The lady obviously never got the loan, but was contacted a short while later by another company.

‘Somebody phoned her saying they had heard she had trouble getting the loan, that the company she was dealing with was terrible and that they would help her to get her money back — all she needed to do was pay a fee,’ said PCSO Canvin.

She ended up paying this new company £175 in iTunes vouchers. After that her details were shared with other scammers and she received more phone calls. She eventually got in touch with police who reported it through Action Fraud for her. Unfortunately however, she will not get her money back.

PCSO Canvin said if you think you are being scammed, or you think someone you know is being scammed, to contact police in the first instance. The police can then identify whether it is someone local doing the offending that they could deal with or whether it is a national or international crime, for which they could then direct the victim to the appropriate help.

He said people should always be wary before sending any money and try to get a second opinion from a friend or family member before doing anything.

Anyone who thinks they have been scammed can contact Action Fraud online by visiting www.actionfraud. police.uk or by calling 0300 1232040.