POLICE are asking residents across Hampshire to be aware of courier fraud following a series of incidents in the county.

The scam involves a person phoning a victim and pretending to be a police officer from the Metropolitan Police area, telling them that they are investigating a fraud before asking the victim to withdraw a significant sum of cash from their bank accounts.

To reassure the victim that they are genuine, they suggest the victim hangs up the phone and rings the bank or police back straight away.

However, they don’t disconnect the call from their end so that when the victim dials the number for the police or bank, they are actually still speaking to the fraudster.

They then ask the victim to withdraw thousands of pounds from their account and send a courier to collect it.

But Hampshire Constabulary has said it will never ask anyone to hand over money.

To date, three people have been arrested in connection with these incidents however the offences are still continuing and the investigation is ongoing.

Chief Inspector Darius Hemmatpour, District Commander for Winchester, said: “I am appealing for anyone who may have already been contacted by anyone purporting to be a police officer and asking for money to contact us on 101 to report this activity.

“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 the police on 101, or 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.”