SIX people have been targeted by fraudsters posing as police officers to con people out of thousands of pounds.

Police received reports after suspects called three people and told them that they needed to examine cash following suspicious activity on their accounts.

Two women from the same property off Kenneth Road, Basildon, withdrew four-figure sums of cash and handed it to a courier posing as an officer.

The other victim, a 74-year-old man, grew suspicious and called police.

Police then received three calls over two days from Tuesday, August 28, after suspects posing as Metropolitan Police Service fraud officers called two men and one woman, all in their 60s.

They claimed they had arrested a relative for fraudulent purchases or had arrested a suspect who had one of their bank cards. The victims were asked to give personal details including their PIN and bank card details but each grew suspicious and put the phone down before calling police.

DS Liz Morgan, from the Serious Economic Crime Unit, said: “These criminals are unscrupulous and despicable. They target elderly and vulnerable members of our communities who, being respectful and honest themselves, will do as instructed by the criminal as they pose as an authority figure.

"Victims are persuaded and pressurised into doing what the criminal instructs. The victim is told to act urgently, not giving them time to reflect or get the advice of a friend or family member.

"A police officer or member of staff at a bank would never ask you for your personal details or banking passwords or PIN numbers or ask you to withdraw or transfer money. If you receive such a call, please hang up and call police."

Police advice is:

* Your bank or the police will never call you to ask you to verify your personal details, your banking log in details, passwords or PIN by phone or offer to pick up your card by courier. They will never ask you to withdraw or transfer money. Hang up if you get a call like this.

* If you need to call your bank back to check, wait five minutes; fraudsters may stay on the line after you hang up. Ensure a dialling tone can be heard. Alternatively, use a different line altogether to call your bank.

* Don’t let a stranger take your bank cards or money from you.

For more advice about bogus callers visit: https://www.essex.police.uk/advice/bogus-callers/.

If you have any information about bogus callers call Essex Police on 101 or report information by visiting www.essex.police.uk/do-it-online.

Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 55 111 or you can call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.