TWO elderly residents from Basingstoke have been scammed out of thousands of pounds over the phone by people pretending to work for The Metropolitan Police.

Police are warning people in the town to be extra vigilant after one 88-year-old victim was conned out of £24,000.

The person on the end of the phone has contacted residents and advised them that their money is at risk from fraud.

They claim to work for The Metropolitan Police and advise them that they must keep their money safe by transferring it to a safer account, provided by them.

They have then asked for personal bank details to enable the transaction.

Residents have then either transferred the money via online banking or given it to a courier who has turned up at their home address.

One of the incidents saw an 88-year-old man, from South Ham, persuaded to place £15,000 into two separate bank accounts on April 11.

He was then told to withdraw a further £9,000 in cash, which was handed to a courier.

The second incident happened on Thursday, April 14, when an 86-year-old woman from Sherborne St John was persuaded to transfer approximately £4,000 into another account.

Officers in Basingstoke have issued the following advice: • Never give out personal information about your bank account to anybody over the phone.

• If someone calls claiming to be a police officer, ask for their identification number and police force. Hang up and call 101 using a different phone. If you can’t use a different phone, wait at least five minutes before calling back. A genuine police officer will not mind waiting while you check.

• Police and banks will never ask you to give out personal details such as account numbers or PIN numbers.

• If you have given out information which could compromise your bank account security in any way, call your bank up to cancel your cards as soon as possible.

• Never hand over money to someone at the door to be sent off elsewhere.

• If someone comes to your door claiming to be a police officer or staff member, always ask for identification and make a note of their ID number. Ask them to wait while you verify their identity. Close the door and call 101.

This week Hampshire Constabulary has been supporting Operation Rogue Trader, which involved police forces and trading standards services all over the country.

The aim is to maintain Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as a hostile environment for doorstep criminals.

If you believe you have been targeted by offenders of this type of crime you should contact Hampshire Constabulary by calling 101.