Police warning after car and pet-buying scams reported in Gloucestershire

Police in Gloucestershire have issued a warning after online scammers tricked people into paying for fake cars and pets.

Two people have been caught out in recent weeks after paying hundreds of pounds in deposits for items that didn't exist.

These include a man from Cheltenham who was given a bogus address after paying for a dog he had seen online, and a man from Gloucester who paid £1,000 for a fake car on eBay.

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The force said it has received further reports of similar scams being carried out, and warned online shoppers to be vigilant.

Gloucestershire Police said there have also been reports concerning online retailer Studio, which they say may have suffered a recent data breach.

According to the force, a number of Studio accounts have been accessed by hackers.

They have advised anyone who might be affected to check if their details have been compromised, by visiting www.haveibeenpwned.com.

They have also recommended changing your account passwords as soon as possible.

Anyone who believes they have been the victim of a scam can report it to Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.