"Bank Security" phoned again asking me if it was correct that £300 to Amazon and £1,100 for foreign currency could be taken from my account. 

This gives me two worries.  First, this scam must be catching enough people to make it worthwhile, and second, they have not even changed the recorded opening message from two years ago.

 I knew it was a scam, because in response to my questions, answers came with words beginning with 'F' and spelt with more asterisks than The Journal would print.

An email has now turned up, pretending there is a "voice mail" for me - very peculiar, a voice mail on my email address, would anyone trust that?  I hope not!  My 25 year old Mac iBook shows that the "link" would take me to an unknown website.  My newer computer and smart phone jump to conclusions and would have taken me there! 

The serious worry is that people may still be fooled by these fraudulent calls.  Never, ever, give your name to a strange caller, whether on the phone, email or at the door.  If they don't know who you are, they have no business talking to you!  Absolutely never give any account details or PIN to an incoming caller or email.  If in doubt, break off and call or email your own bank at the bank's usual number - NOT the number you were called from! 

Most of you probably know this, reminded by recent emails reflecting new versions of scams.  To save other people being troubled, keep the scammer on line as long as possible!  The simplest is to ask the caller to hold, then leave the phone and continue doing what you were doing when they called!  My own approach is to maximise amusement by asking questions under the guise of "security".  I had a caller claiming to be from Manchester who did not know the area code for his own city! 

A story comes to mind of someone claiming money from a neighbour after falsely accusing them of accessing their property while they were away.  It might be cheaper to pay up than involve lawyers, but if it came to court without evidence then costs would be awarded!  Too many people tell stories to improve their self image or bully others for money.   

The most vulnerable are people on their own, perhaps not even reading the Exmouth Journal.  This makes it important to communicate with otherwise lonely people we see around, and spread confidence that the world is not really as base upwards as it sometimes seems, at least not in East Devon! 

Seemingly reputable companies can scam people too.  For a recent pop concert, tickets were offered at a given price, but, when reaching the "basket" stage in the online process for payment, the price had dramatically changed to a new and vastly increased amount.  Is this the origin of the phrase "basket case"?  Even with regular retailers, advertised prices are not always the same as marked on shelves or charged at check-out.  The lesson is to check at every step of the process! 

Watching a TV breakfast show makes one wonder where our politicians figure out their priorities.  We are short of housing to buy or rent, have problems with care homes, mental health, high energy cost and much more! 

We all need to be watchful and keep alert!