CON-artists posing as utility providers have been targeting Ottery homes with a spate of bogus calls, police have warned.

CON-artists posing as utility providers have been targeting Ottery homes with a spate of "bogus" calls, police have warned.

Residents have received telephone calls from strangers, purporting to be from BT, who have demanded bank card details to pay non-existent �75 debt, before threatening to cut-off home-owners' phone services.

PCSO Maria Clapp said the scam left one woman "on edge and upset" and has warned townsfolk to be vigilant and to never disclose card details over the phone.

She said: "We have also had a problem with door to door callers. An elderly woman recently had a call at her door from a man who offered to remove moss from her roof for �4,000.

My advice for people calling at door is please be aware. Ask yourself do you know them? If not don't answer. The best thing to do with any salesman or anything odd is get second opinion.