A charity has issued a warning to the public to be wary of cold callers who say they work for the organisation.

It is understood the scammers try to trick people into believing they are eligible to receive a £500 grant from Age Scotland and ask them to provide their contact details and bank account information.

Age Scotland has confirmed that these calls are scams - and have confirmed that the charity will not phone members of the public unexpectedly to offer them a grant or to ask for their bank details.

Trading Standards Scotland has issued advice to people who may be worried about receiving scam calls.

A spokesperson said: "Don't give any details to a cold caller. If you are unsure whether a call from an organisation is legitimate, hang up and contact the organisation using a number found on their website or in an official directory.

"Never give a cold caller any personal information, even if they already have some of your details.

"Be wary of any cold call where you are offered a grant, prize or anything else that sounds too good to be true.

"Contact your bank immediately if you think you may have given your account details to a scammer.

"If you are worried about an older relative, you can sign them up to the Telephone Preference Service for free by calling 034 070 0707 or online at www.tpsonline.org.uk."

Advice on avoiding phone scams can be found at www.tsscot.co.uk/Phone-Scam-Information.pdf.