ELDERLY and more vulnerable people have been scammed out of thousands of pounds in four incidents of fraud during the past few weeks, police disclosed today.

Four similar incidents have taken place over the last few weeks where the fraudsters pretended to be from the police, a bank or government organisation.

Police said the incidents took place on September 18 and 30 and October 22 and 24.

A spokesman said: "We are not divulging the amount of money in these cases to protect the victims."

In each case, the scammer called the victim and persuaded them to transfer money to another account or go to the bank and take out money to hand to a person purporting to be a police officer or official (known as courier fraud).

In one particular case on September 18 an elderly woman from Chippenham was called by a man called Adam saying he was from the Fraud Squad and he suspected her bank was scamming her out of money.

As a result he told her she needed to transfer thousands of pounds to a new bank account to help uncover the scam.

The woman, in her 80s, transferred the money to this "new" account before the scam was realised.

Complex Fraud Investigator Alison Wiles said: "These fraudsters are very convincing and could result in you losing your savings.

"If you receive a call from anybody purporting to be from the police, bank, or any organisation you did not call, please take a telephone number and then put the phone down.

"Go and make a cup of tea or do something for five minutes (this stops any fraudster from keeping your phone line open) then call a trusted friend, relative or Wiltshire Police on 101 and tell them what has happened.

"Never transfer money or give the caller access to your banking details or cards. The bank or police would never ask you to do this.

"We are also appealing for families to talk to each other, especially elderly relatives, to raise awareness of this type of crime."

Further details about courier fraud can be found on the Action Fraud website www.actionfraud.police.uk