INVERCLYDE'S favourite gardener was the target of a phone scam by sick fraudsters  - and is warning other victims to be on their guard.

Tele columnist George Irvine, who works closely with Cardwell Garden Centre, answered the phone to a caller claiming to be from BT.

They tried to persuade the keen horticulturist, who has recently recovered from a fall, that they needed to carry out work on his broadband system, and insisted that he needed to switch on his computer to give them access.

But the 84-year-old retired scientist was immediately suspicious and refused to accept their claims before hanging up and blocking the number.

And while George says he's grateful not to have been taken in, he worries that others in Inverclyde may not be so alert to the possibility that the person on the other end of the phone may be aiming to empty out their bank account.

George IrvineGeorge Irvine (Image: George Munro)

George, who lives in Gourock, said: "It was an international number that called my landline. I was suspicious.

"But I have been waiting for BT to carry out work on my broadband. So it shows how easy it can happen. It is like they know what is going on.

"I am just worried that this could happen to other people, older people as well, who may allow them access.

"It is worrying that they can do this so easily."

Well-respected George has been a expert gardener and columnist for decades, helping local people keep their gardens in trim, as well as organising and judging horticultural shows.

He has lived on his own in Gourock since his wife died four years ago, and last year spent weeks in hospital recovering from a fall at home.

He is a regular speaker at Cardwell Garden Centre and for many years ran the much loved Gourock Garden Party.

The Tele has previously reported cases where local people have been taken in by phone fraudsters who have stolen thousands of pounds from victims' bank accounts after being allowed remote access to their computers.

Following a recent increase in cases Police Scotland has put out repeated warning to people to be on their guard.

Fraudsters will often pretend to be from a computer or phone company, and will call claiming there is an issue and then offering to help,

They instruct their victim to download a programme which gives remote access from which they can then access personal details letting them in to their victims' bank accounts.

Police Scotland advise people to hang up, never allow anyone remote access to your computer.

BT advise customers to hang up and report scams both to them and the police.

They add that a genuine service provider would never call out of the blue regarding issues.

Anyone who thinks they may have fallen victim to a scam is asked to contact police on 101.