POLICE are warning Winchester residents of a string of courier scams targeting the elderly.

Conmen are impersonating Metropolitan Police officers and telling victims they are investigating a fraud, the force said.

They then ask the victim to withdraw large amounts of money from their bank account before it is collected by a courier as 'evidence'.

Three people have been arrested in connection with these incidents, but police say offences are still continuing.

Another con involves scam callers warning of 'stolen bank cards' and trying to extract account details.

Police also warned that criminals are asking to use large sums of residents' money as 'bait' to lure in phoney scammers.

Officers are urging anyone with information to come forward by calling 101 - and stressed that the elderly should inform family if they think they have been a victim.

There were nine scam phone calls made in Winchester on one day last week.

Chief Inspector Darius Hemmatpour, district commander for Winchester, said: “This type of fraud against vulnerable people is cruel and swift. The key message is never to give your card to anyone, never give your PIN to anyone, and never agree to visit your bank to take out cash if someone calls you to tell you there is a problem with your bank account."

"If you are telephoned, hang up, wait five minutes and call police on 101, your bank on the telephone number provided on your card, not a number you have been given over the telephone.

“Ensure there is a dial tone on your phone first before you call, or better still, call from a friend's house or mobile. This is because the telephone line sometimes remains open as the person who called you does not hang up, and you are still connected to the person trying to trick you.”