AN ELDERLY man has been conned out of “a significant amount of money” thanks to a Bitcoin scam.

Police highlighted the incident, which involved a man from Prestonpans, on Tuesday.

The officers, who did not reveal the sum of money taken, highlighted the importance of keeping safe online.

Bitcoin is a type of digital currency in which a record of transactions is maintained and new units of currency are generated by computers.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “Be careful online, use a secure browser and only insert card details if the padlock icon is visible.

“Do not divulge personal information over the phone unless you initiate the call. Never enter personal information into a pop-up screen.

“Never email personal or financial information, even if you are close with the recipient.

“Protect your devices by installing anti-virus software on them all and ensure they are up to date.”