Police impersonator cons elderly woman out of cash

The victim handed over a large amount of money to a "courier" on her doorstep

A warning has been issued after a man impersonating a police officer persuaded an elderly woman to hand over a "large quantity of cash".

The fraudster called the woman and told her police were investigating money being taken from her account, Wiltshire Police said.

She was convinced to withdraw cash and hand it to a man who arrived at her house in Melksham.

This type of scam is sometimes known as "courier fraud". Det Con Rachel Davies said: "We will never send a courier to your home to collect your cash, bank cards, PINs or any other valuable goods."

The elderly woman did also hand over her bank card, along with her PIN.

But she then rang the police and her bank, which cancelled her card before any more money could be taken.

Det Con Rachel Davies said anyone who had been called by someone claiming to be from the police could hang up and ring 101 to check the veracity of the call.

Any suspected courier fraud should be reported to Action Fraud, which collects reports on behalf of the police, she said.

And anyone who has revealed their bank details or handed their card to a courier should also call their bank straight away to cancel their card, the officer added.

She said: "It is important to remember that your bank or the police will never call you to ask you to verify your personal details or PIN."

Inquiries into the incident in Melksham on Monday are ongoing.