POLICE in Lincolnshire are warning airline passengers who were delayed by volcanic ash not to fall for a compensation scam.

As reported in the Echo, scores of people from across Lincolnshire were stranded at airports around the world for days after flights were grounded.

Police are now urging people to be aware of a con in which the perpetrators claim to be acting for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) offering customers compensation.

People are asked to provide personal details including bank account and passport numbers and told they must pay a certain amount before compensation can be paid to them.

This kind of e-mail scam, known as phishing, can result in con artists clearing out people's bank accounts.

Detective Sergeant Ian Jarman, of Lincolnshire Police's economic crime unit, stresses that the CAA has not issued any e-mail messages about compensation and was not in fact offering pay-outs.

"We are committed to preventing county residents being victims of crime and would ask that any scam e-mails be reported to us though the force website," he said.

A CAA spokesman said: "The CAA's advice to passengers affected by volcanic ash disruption remains unchanged, passengers claiming reimbursement of expenses should contact their airline in the first instance."

People who have responded to an e-mail claiming to be from the CAA regarding flight compensation and have paid an initial fee to receive 'compensation' should call Action Fraud on 0300 1232040 or visit www.actionfraud.org.uk for more information.