A GANG of fraudsters are targeting vulnerable elderly people in Hampshire.

Police have warned residents to be vigilant after an 86-year-old woman in Southampton was targeted.

Thieves have attempted to obtain bank cards and account details using bogus telephone calls and couriers and police received three reports of incidents in Shirley in one day.

The elderly woman was told by a man on the phone that her account had been compromised and that they needed to collect her bank cards.

Shortly afterwards a man arrived at the door and the victim placed her cards in an envelope and handed it to them.

She soon realised that the operation was illegitimate and was able to cancel the cards without money being taken from her accounts.

Detective inspector Sue Orr said: “People across Hampshire have lost large sums of cash as a result of this fraud as often the elderly and vulnerable are targeted.

“We want to warn residents that these requests are no genuine and that no police officer or bank would operate in this manner.”

Residents are reminded to never give out bank details over the phone, to ask for identification from anyone claiming to be a police officer, and never to hand over money at the door to be sent anywhere.

Anyone who is concerned about similar incidents can contact police by calling 101 or if a crime is in progress by calling 999.