Courier fraudsters are targetting Albourne, Wootton Rivers Devizes and Great Bedwyn.

Courier fraud occurs when a fraudster contacts victims by telephone purporting to be a police officer or bank official.

Victims are asked to co-operate in an investigation and withdraw money from their bank or handing over an expensive item to a ‘courier’ for examination.

A 90-year-old woman from Great Bedwyn received a call from a fraudster claiming to be from Hammersmith Police saying her bank cards had been reproduced and asked her to hand over £2,200 to a courier who attended her home address.

On the same day, an 85-year-old man in Aldbourne was contacted by phone by a man claiming a bank fraud which required him to withdraw £3,000.

And a 90-year-old woman in Wootton Rivers was contacted by a man claiming to be from the Met Police advising her about money laundering and urged her to empty her account. She withdrew £3,000 and handed money to a man who attended her address.

And on October 19, an 82-year-old man in Devizes was called by a fraudster claiming to be a police officer – they instructed him to withdraw £4,600 which he did before handing it over to a courier who called at his address.

PC Emily Grigor said: “Officers are working closely with bank managers in the area to ensure protocol is followed when incidents of this nature occur and that police are informed immediately.

“We’d like to take this opportunity to remind the public that banks, police officers and other professionals will never contact you to ask for you to assist with investigations, withdraw money or purchase expensive items.

“Understandably, victims of this type of crime can feel extremely upset and sometimes embarrassed once they are aware they have fallen victim to a fraudulent phone call. We know that those who commit this type of crime can seem highly credible and they can be very convincing but it is really important that you remain suspicious and vigilant. If something doesn’t seem right, hang up immediately but do not use the same landline phone to call your bank or police as the fraudsters will keep the line open and will remain on the phone without you realising.

“We’d also urge relatives and friends of those who may be vulnerable to this type of crime to initiate a conversation with them about courier fraud, how it works, and how convincing these fraudsters can be so that we can ensure they do not fall victim to this crime.”

To report a crime of this nature, call 101 or 999. Alternatively, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.