DORSET Police are urging residents in East Dorset to be vigilant following a spate of hoax telephone calls.

Several elderly residents have been targeted by fraudsters pretending to be an officer from the Metropolitan Police, saying their bank accounts are at risk. The fraudster then stays on the line so when the victim tries to call their bank or building society the offenders take the call and try to obtain their financial information such as account numbers, passwords and PIN.

Sgt Tim Travers, of Dorset Police, said there have been reports of calls of this nature.

He said: “On other occasions, the fraudsters have asked the victim to send their bank card to an address they control or have even asked them to go to their banks and withdraw large sums of cash to be sent via courier.”

Sgt Travers added: “Banks nor police will ever require any of these things, they will never expect you to disclose your bank details over the phone or ask you to send your bank cards or cash anywhere.”