Rutland residents with elderly relatives and neighbours are again being urged to make them aware of a fraud where victims are being duped out of large sums of money or jewellery.

In the last week two people - neither from the county - have been conned out of thousands of pounds after someone claiming to be a police officer conducting a fraud investigation contacted them.

But in December an elderly Oakham couple were duped out of £5,000 after falling foul of the so-called courier fraudsters.

The pensioners in their 80s were also contacted by a conman by telephone claiming to be a police officer.

After gaining their trust, the fraudster claimed money had been withdrawn from their account by staff at their bank.

The victims were told to go their local branch and take out the large sum of money from their account which the fraudsters then had collected from their home.

The couple were contacted again two days later and told half the cash was counterfeit and persuaded to withdraw more money.

However, bank staff became suspicious and got in touch with police.

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Today Paul Wenlock, from Leicestershire Police economic crime unit, said: "In the majority of cases we know elderly and vulnerable people are being targeted by these scammers.

"They sound plausible and victims do get taken in by what they are being told.

"A number of warnings have been issued about these crimes in the last few months but we know not everyone accesses social media or the internet, so we are asking the public to help us by informing their neighbours or relatives about these offences.

"They should be advised that police officers would never contact them in this way.

"If they are called they should disconnect the call straightaway and report the incident to the police using another telephone, as on some occasions calls can remain connected."

Further advice about courier fraud - and how to protect against becoming a victim - can be found on the Action Fraud website by clicking the red button below.