FARMERS in North Yorkshire have been warned they may be the target of fraudsters in coming months.

From this week, farmers will start to receive large funds through the European Union's main rural payments scheme, which means their names and amount paid is publicly available.

Scammers have already begun using the EU lists to find the farmers' details to contact them and claim that fraud has been detected on their bank account and ask for personal or financial information to transfer money directly into a 'safe account'.

The Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU), a national police unit formed with Financial Fraud Action UK, City of London Police, the Metropolitan Police and the Home Office, have urged farmers to think twice before giving out details over the phone.

Chief Inspector Nick Hunter, North Yorkshire Police lead for rural crime, said: "Criminals are well aware of when these annual payments start to arrive and will look for any opportunity to defraud their victims.

"It is vital that farmers, and other recipients of the payment, are alert to these scams and are very wary of any phone calls, texts or emails out of the blue asking for personal or financial information, or to transfer money to another account."

Tony Blake, DCPCU Senior Fraud Prevention Officer, said: "If you receive a suspicious call or message, hang up the phone and do not reply directly. Instead, wait five minutes and ring your bank to alert them to the scam, using a phone number that you trust – such as the one from the official website."