Elderly and vulnerable residents in Abingdon and surrounding villages are being targeted by courier fraudsters - according to Thames Valley Police. 

As of yesterday, 13 incidents of courier fraud have been recorded in the area since mid-December, meaning upwards of £150,000 has been stolen. 

Courier fraudsters phone and trick victims into handling large sums of cash to a courier that arrives at their home. 

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And in Abingdon, they have claimed to be from the victim's bank, the police, a fraud investigator and even television personality and Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis OBE. 

But officers are calling on the community to help tackle the problem by taking ten minutes to talk to their elderly friends and relatives. 

Detective Inspector Paul Powell said: "This is a despicable crime in which a fraudster takes advantage of their victim’s trust to gain access to their life savings."

Thames Valley Police have now created prompt cards that can be pinned next to the front door and put next to a phone, in order to explain to vulnerable and elderly people how to recognise courier fraud. 

Detective Powell contined: "We have created these prompt cards to help vulnerable and elderly people recognise courier fraud and to help stop them from becoming a victim.  

"We’re asking family and friends to print out these prompt cards, drop them around to elderly friends, family and neighbours, and to take ten minutes to talk through these top tips.  

“Taking the time now might well save a lot of heartache in the long run."

Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, said he was deeply offended that scammers would try to "besmirch" the company's trust. 

He said: "Anyone purporting to be from MoneySavingExpert.com is a liar and you should immediately understand that you are talking to someone who is trying to scam, mislead, or defraud you."

If you receive this type of call, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or via their website. In an emergency dial 999.