POLICE have issued a fresh warning about a phone scam after reports of elderly and vulnerable West Oxfordshire residents being targeted.

There have been dozens of reports of variations of the con across the county in recent months, which sees fraudsters phone and try to trick victims into handing over their bank cards details or cash to a courier.

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Police advised people to never deal with cold callers, no matter how polite or friendly they are.

They also stressed officers will never send a courier to someone's home to collect bank cards or money.

In many cases the fraudster will cold call the victim on a landline, often claiming to be from the victim's bank, the police, or to be a fraud investigator.

The fraudster states their systems have spotted a fraudulent payment in the victim's account, or that they need the victim's help in investigating fraudulent activity at the bank.

READ AGAIN: 'Fake police' targeting Oxford were minutes from conning pensioner out of £12k

In order to reassure the victim that they are genuine they suggest that the victim hangs up and rings the bank/ police back straight away.

However they do not hang up at their end to disconnect the call from the landline so even when the genuine bank/ police number is dialled the victim is still talking to the fraudster.

Finally, the fraudsters will send a courier to collect the card and PIN, cash or in some cases take the victim to a bank to withdraw cash.

Anyone who receives a call is asked to report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.