QUICK-thinking shop staff stopped a pensioner falling victim to a new fraud based on iTunes gift cards.

A woman in her 80s went into the Durham branch of WH Smith in the last few days to buy £250 of iTunes gifts cards after receiving an automated voicemail telling her to use the gift cards to pay a debt to HMRC.

The incident has sparked a police warning over the new tactic being used by fraudsters, which has seen one victim in Durham Police area lose £2,500.

Under the scam, potential victims are contacted by a variety of methods, including voicemails and text messages, telling them they owe an outstanding debt.

They are informed that failure to clear the debt will lead to a fine or arrest and that the quickest and easiest way to pay is by using an iTunes gift card voucher code.

Once the conmen have the serial code they are then free to use it, at the victim’s expense.

Police are contacting stores across County Durham and Darlington to alert them to large purchases of iTunes vouchers.

Detective constable Tony Murray, of Durham Constabulary’s economic crime unit, said: “Fraudsters are now moving onto iTunes gift cards to collect money from victims because they can be easily redeemed and quick purchases can be made with them.

“The scammers don’t need the physical card to redeem the value and instead get victims to read out the serial code on the back over the phone.

“They are putting the victims under real pressure by stating if the debt is not repaid swiftly then the police will be sent to arrest them.

“These types of criminals are expert in what they do and very skilled at sounding plausible.”

Police say that members of the public should be on guard for calls coming from the number 0300 200 3300.