Devon & Cornwall Police are warning residents about a scam in which fraudsters impersonate Amazon staff and attempt to gain access to victims' accounts.

The force's Cyber Protect team said victims receive unexpected telephone calls from someone claiming to be from Amazon.

The caller tells them an unauthorised purchase, often a high-value item such as an iPhone, has been attempted on their account and that immediate action is needed to stop the order.

The fraudster then asks the victim to read out a verification code sent to their mobile phone or WhatsApp account.

Police say the code is actually being generated because the fraudster is attempting to access the victim's Amazon account.

If the victim provides the code, the criminal may be able to take control of the account.

Police are warning people not to share one-time passcodes, verification codes or multi-factor authentication codes with anyone who contacts them unexpectedly.

The force said genuine organisations would not ask customers to disclose security codes sent to their devices.

People receiving a suspicious call are advised to hang up and check their Amazon account directly using the official app or website, rather than using contact details provided by the caller.

Signs of the scam include an unexpected call claiming to be from Amazon, a caller creating a sense of urgency by referring to a suspicious purchase and a request for a security or verification code.

Anyone who has already shared a code is advised to change their Amazon password immediately and check their account for unauthorised activity.

They should also review their multi-factor authentication settings and contact Amazon Customer Service through official channels.

Devon and Cornwall Police are reminding people that security codes sent to their devices are intended for their use only and should never be shared with someone who contacts them unexpectedly.

Anyone who has been a victim of fraud or cybercrime can report it to Report Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.

People who need to contact their bank quickly can call 159.