POLICE are urging Dorset residents to remain vigilant following fresh reports of a suspected phone scam.

A spokesman from Dorset Police said officers had received four new reports of a hoax targeting residents in the county.

The scam follows a similar hoax which targeted residents across the county last month.

The force spokesman said: “It has been reported that telephone calls have been received from a person purporting to be a detective constable from the Metropolitan Police.

“They were told that a person known to them was in custody and had their bank details or had taken money from their accounts.”

She continued: “The caller asks them to confirm their identity and in some cases asks them to hang up and re-dial 999.

“Fortunately, in all of these incidents the victims have not complied and have notified the police instead.”

Telephone bank scams similar to this have been occurring nationally with people being defrauded of thousands of pounds.