POLICE are warning Borderers to be on alert over 'phantom debt' phone calls.

At Wednesday's meeting of Melrose Community Council, local officer Calum Wilson told members several people had been contacted by scammers, claiming they owed money.

He said: "We have increasingly seen phantom debt calls, which are cold calls where the caller pretends to be a debt collector or enforcement agent with a high court order that does not exist.

"They say that if the debt is not paid someone will turn up at the door.

"This is definitely something folks need to be aware of and should contact the police if they are called."