Gloucestershire Constabulary is warning people to be vigilant after elderly people in Gloucester have been targeted by fraudsters purporting to be the police.

Residents with the telephone code 01452 have been receiving calls over the last week from the scammers.

They are telling victims that their bank account has been compromised and the police are investigating. The victims are instructed to withdraw cash and purchase Euros to assist the police investigation.

Victims are then told that the money is counterfeit and a "police courier" arrives at the victim's address to collect it.

Thirty reports were made to Gloucestershire Constabulary last week. In each case, the victims were told by the fraudsters that they were police officers calling from "Bearlands", "Barton Street" or "Waterwells".

The average victim of courier fraud in Gloucestershire is 79-years-old. Officers are now asking people in Gloucester to raise awareness of the scam by speaking to elderly or vulnerable relatives, friends and neighbours.

There are a number of things you can do to help protect yourself from fraudsters:

• If you believe you are being targeted by a scammer hang up and use a different phone to call Action Fraud (0300-123-2040). Scammers have a way to stay on the line and will pretend to be the police when you call back.

• If you don't have access to a different phone, wait for a period of time, at least 10 minutes, and try calling a family member or friend first to make sure the scammer is no longer on the line.

• Neither police nor bank officials will ever ask you to withdraw money from your account, purchase anything or hand over your personal details or passwords.

• Just because someone knows basic details about you like your name, address or date of birth, it doesn't mean they are genuine bank or police employees.

• If you have been the victim of fraud, or simply want to report a suspicious telephone call, message, or email, then please visit the government's new online fraud platform Report fraud - Stop! Think Fraud (stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk).

For further advice on keeping yourself safe from fraud, visit Gloucestershire Constabulary's website: Advice about fraud | Gloucestershire Constabulary