A SCAMMER pretending to be a police officer has been calling up homeowners in Evesham and the Cotswolds.

Cotswold Police say they have received multiple reports of a likely telephone scam involving a fraudster claiming to be a DC Lewis from Paddington Police Station in London.

The alleged scammer is understood to have tried to contact residents in Moreton, Evesham, and the north Cotswolds on Tuesday afternoon.

During the call 'DC Lewis' would say that someone had been arrested in London with a clone of the victim's bank card.

Victims were asked to hang-up and dial 999 to confirm the officer's identity.

However, the fraudster would actually stay on the line and so, after dialling 999, the victim would be connected to the same person.

The victims were then instructed to withdraw cash and purchase foreign currency, to be collected by a "police courier" from their doorstep.

Other victims were instructed to transfer funds into a "police bank account".

LPSO Beth Mackenzie said: "Residents in the Moreton and north Cotswolds are advised to be vigilant for suspicious telephone calls.

"Members of the public have been rung on their landline and are spoken to by persons claiming to be a police officer from London.

"They are asked to disclose bank details, having been told that their bank cards may have been stolen.  

"Real police officers would never ask for these details."

Cotswold Police say that the average victim of courier fraud in Gloucestershire is 79 years old. 

As such, people are urged to warn their elderly or vulnerable relatives, friends and neighbours, with further information on the website Fraud PROTECT.

In this instance, the fraudster had targeted the 01608, 01386 and 01451 dialling codes.

These codes include the towns of Evesham, Stow, and Chipping Norton.

Anyone who receives one of these calls is asked to report it to the police by calling 101 or online, or by phoning 999 if appropriate.