POLICE are warning people to be on their guard against scams made over the telephone.

Office staff have reported receiving calls at work claiming to be from the post office, asking them to confirm their company postcode.

When this is given they are told they have become eligible for gift vouchers for their help, and asked to provide their own address and postcode to receive the reward.

But in 90 per cent of cases women who have provided such information have been burgled as thieves assume their homes are empty during office hours.

Swindon police spokeswoman Alvina Kumar said: "Swindon police are aware of various different telephone scams currently in operation and would advise recipients of such calls not to divulge personal information such as postcode, bank account number or any other details."

It has also been reported that people have been called by individuals claiming to be AT &T service technicians conducting tests.

Police warn people not to heed test instructions of dialling nine, zero, hash then hanging up. To do this gives full access to telephone lines and allows offenders to make international or chatline calls on other people's bills. The post office and AT&T say such calls are not genuine.