Police have issued a warning to local people regarding a new mobile phone scam that has reportedly been going around.

In a notification sent out by Linzi Berryman, Devon and Cornwall Alert Officer, the police detailed how the scam involves residents receiving a cold call from someone claiming to be from a mobile phone company who then gives details of an offer on a mobile phone contract with a new model.

A different mobile phone from the one offered in the original call is then delivered, after which the resident receives another call from the fraudster stating that the wrong phone was sent and an address is given for it to be sent to.

Mobile phone scams have been on the rise in Cornwall and across the country this year, with a report published by research company Dojo back in April claiming to have seen a 600% increase in the number of fake delivery texts being received in April alone.

The warning, issued on behalf of Devon and Cornwall Police by Neighbourhood Alert, said: "We would like to make residents aware of a scam in circulation that we have received reports of.

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"This scam involves a resident receiving a cold call from someone purporting to be from a mobile phone company giving details of an offer on a mobile phone contract with a new handset.

"A mobile phone is then delivered to the resident which is different from the one offered in the original call, the resident receives another call from the fraudster stating that the wrong phone was sent and an address is given for it to be sent to.

"Please be wary of this scam.

"If you are looking for a new contract or mobile phone please do not take the word of a cold caller as genuinely being from that Company, do not give any personal information.

"After receiving a cold call please wait ten minutes before making another call, or make sure the line has cleared by phoning a friend/family member.

"If you believe you may have been a victim to this scam please phone the Company that the phone has been sent from, by finding the number from a reliable source, and consider doing a credit check on yourself to see if a new contract has been set up, please also report this to action fraud https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ or telephone 0300 123 2040.

"If you have concerns please phone 101 or email 101@dc.police.uk."