FRAUDSTERS pretending to be police officers have tricked several elderly residents in the Cirencester area into giving them money.
Police have warned residents about a recent courier scam where fraudsters have been ringing up 01285 landline numbers pretending to be officers from Cirencester Police Station.
Victims are told that their bank accounts has been compromised and are then instructed to withdraw cash at their local branch, to 'assist the police investigation'.
They are then told the money is counterfeit and then a scammer purporting as a police courier arrives at the victim’s address to collect it.
A spokesperson for Gloucestershire police said: "The force control room received five similar reports of this scam on Monday, March 25.
"In each case, the victim's 01285 landline telephone number was called by fraudsters purporting to be local officers from Cirencester Police Station.
"The average victim of courier fraud in Gloucestershire is 79 years old.
"Please help us raise awareness of this scam by informing your elderly or vulnerable relatives, friends and neighbours.
"If you have been the victim of fraud, or simply want to report a suspicious telephone call, message, or email, then please visit the government's new online fraud platform stopthinkfraud."
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