SUBSCRIBERS to Sky television are being urged to look out for a scam doing the rounds.

Hoax callers are claiming a reduction in Sky box insurance to the satellite service's customers.

But the scammers say they need to take bank details because the insurance cover comes out separately.

Newton Abbot resident Len Thomas quickly cottoned on to the scam when he got the call.

He said: "When they said they needed my bank details as the insurance cover would be a separate direct debit I queried it and they hung up.

"I phoned Sky and they told me it was a scam going around in the South West."

A Sky spokesman said: "We are aware some warranty companies are passing themselves off as being linked to Sky.

"We now alert our customers to their presence in the help centre section of our website and provide customers with clear guidance on the measures they can take, if they are contacted by one of these companies.

"We don't think it's acceptable to treat customers this way and there's no justification for misleading sales tactics. We continue to track activities of other companies and investigate customer feedback in instances of passing off or mis-selling, so if any customers believe that they have been misled, we'd like to hear from them."

A police spokesman said the force had not been made aware of the latest scam but backed Sky's general advice.