PEOPLE in Worcestershire have been warned to be alert after five people in Redditch received calls from someone claiming to be a police officer today.

In all five cases the male caller tried a number of tactics to gain bank details and PIN numbers such as claiming their cards had been used to buy high value goods or they had been found on an arrested person.

Fortunately none of those called gave over any of their details and police are calling for anyone receiving any similar calls to let them know on 101 or 999.

Ways to avoid falling victim to telephone scams include hanging up and telling police if you feel a call is suspicious, cancel all cards if details are given over and only call your bank on the details provided by them – not the one given by the caller.

Police are also advising people to avoid using their phone for at least five minutes after a suspicious call as the fraudsters may still be on the line.

Police and banks will never ask for your PIN or account details.

Anyone with any information about any of today’s calls is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 135S, 147S, 159S, 179S or 211S of Tuesday, November 11.

Anyone concerned they may have been victim of fraud is advised to report it to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting centre, on 0300 123 2040 or via www.actionfraud.police.uk.