PENSIONERS David and Susan Bellord have warned people against being caught out by a computer scam.

They were phoned by a cold caller who demanded that they switch on their computer as there was a fault with it.

The caller then took control of their computer for 50 minutes before then taking a payment of $170 – around £104 – from their bank card.

Mr Bellord, 69, of St Katherine’s Avenue, Bridport, said that it was lucky that they didn’t bank online and urged people to be vigilant.

He said: “It was worrying.

“The trouble is once they have got your details they pass it around to others as well.

“People do fall for this sort of thing.

“Be careful and don’t be taken in by anyone like that.”

He added: “We don’t do online banking.

“We just have photos on the computer and that sort of thing.

“They were on there on for quite a while looking around.”

Mrs Bellord, 66, took the international call, which seemed genuine to start with.

The couple then realised that it was a scam and alerted Barclays Bank and the police.

The payment went through but the bank refunded the money after confirming that it was fraudulent.

Mr and Mrs Bellord have also cancelled their bank card.

Staff at Bridport’s Citizens Advice Bureau warned that such scams were getting cleverer and cleverer.

Manager Martin Paley said: “People should not give out any financial details whatsoever.

“Don’t give out details no matter who they say they are.

“They are some really clever ones at the moment. They are getting cleverer and cleverer.”

Mr Paley said that some fraudsters will suggest the victim calls the bank but gives them a bogus number for the bank which is then answered by an accomplice.

Mr Paley said that banks will never ask for account numbers, PIN numbers, bank card numbers or security codes from the back of cards.

Police have previously warned residents about scams. They have included fake computer technicians who say a perfectly healthy machine is faulty and then charge for doing no work on it.

Other fraudsters use the scams to gain access so they can try and find personal or bank details.