HOUSEHOLDS with a landline number are being urged to be on their guard against phone calls from fraudsters pretending to be the taxman.

The warning has been issued by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), which said callous scammers often target elderly and vulnerable customers.

Pauline Smith, head of the Action Fraud crime reporting centre, said: “Fraudsters will call your landline claiming to be from reputable organisations such as HMRC. Contact like this is designed to convince you to hand over valuable personal details or your money.

“Don’t assume anyone who calls you is who they say they are. If a person calls to ask you to make a payment or log into an online account, be cautious and seek advice.”

Anyone who receives a suspicious call from someone claiming to be from HMRC can report it by contacting Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.