By james art 
TV columnist George Irvine, who works closely with Cardwell Garden Centre, answered the phone to a caller claiming to be from BT.
They tried to convince the keen gardener, who had recently recovered from a fall, that they needed to carry out work on his broadband system and insisted he turn on his computer to give them access.
But the 84-year-old retired scientist was immediately suspicious and refused to accept their claims before hanging up and blocking the number.
And while George says he’s grateful he wasn’t taken in, he worries others in Inverclyde may not be as alert to the possibility the person on the other end of the phone is out to empty their bank account.
George, who lives in Gourock, said: “It was an international number that called my landline. I was suspicious.
“But I’ve been waiting for BT to carry out work on my broadband. So that shows how easily it can happen. It’s like they know what’s going on.
“I’m just worried that this could happen to other people, including elderly people who may allow them access.”
“It’s disturbing that they can do this so easily.”
The esteemed George has been an expert gardener and columnist for decades, helping local people keep their gardens tidy as well as organizing and judging garden shows.
He has lived alone in Gourock since his wife died four years ago and spent weeks in hospital last year recovering from a fall at home.
He is a regular lecturer at Cardwell Garden Center and for many years ran the much-loved Gourock Garden Party.
The Tele has already reported cases where local people have been caught out by phone scammers who have stolen thousands of pounds from victims’ bank accounts after being granted remote access to their computers.
Following a recent rise in cases, Police Scotland has repeatedly warned people to be vigilant.
Scammers will often pretend to be from a computer or phone company and call claiming to have a problem and then offer to help,
They instruct their victim to download a program that gives remote access, from which they can then access personal data allowing them access to their victims’ bank accounts.
Police Scotland is advising people to shut down and never allow anyone to remotely access your computer.
BT are advising customers to hang up and report scams to both them and the police.
They add that a true service provider would never call out of the blue about problems.
Anyone who believes they have been the victim of a scam is urged to call 101.