Bridport pensioners are urging people to ‘think twice’ when answering the phone.

A husband and wife from Bridport want to raise awareness of a new scam which is doing the rounds after they nearly fell for the fraud.

Fortunately they suspected it might be a trick and did not comply with requests made on the phone - and instead alerted their bank and the police who confirmed they had been targeted by fraudsters.

The pair explained they were at home when they received a phone call from a Bridport area code (01308).

As they recognised the code, they decided to answer the call.

The pair who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Someone phoned us on a Bridport number asking questions about our bank account.

“We phoned the bank immediately afterwards and thank goodness nothing had come out of the account. We then phoned the police who told us they were aware of these types of scams - You really need to think twice.”

Recent reports received by Dorset Police show that victims have received telephone calls from people claiming to be their bank or police officers, encouraging them to withdraw or transfer large sums of money for ‘safe-keeping’ following ‘detected fraudulent activity’ on their account.

Damian Cranny, Fraud Protect Officer at Dorset Police, said: “People committing courier fraud typically target the elderly or vulnerable people who may live alone or suffer from age-related illnesses.

“Courier fraud can seem convincing, and callers often reference personal details to make them seem legitimate. Police officers will never ask you to make a payment or purchase, withdraw or transfer money, or ask for your bank details.

“These incidents have a huge impact on victims, and we’re committed to doing everything we can to warn residents about signs of courier fraud to prevent further cases in Dorset.”

Dorset Police has shared advice for anyone who suspects a call may be fraudulent:

•            Your bank or the police will never ask for your PIN.

•            Neither the police nor the banks will send a courier to collect money from you.

•            If you're asked to telephone a bank, always make the call on a different phone to the one you were contacted on.

•            Do not rush into complying to the scammers demands.

•            If you have already given your bank details over the phone or handed your card details to a courier, call your bank straight away to let them know and request that they cancel the card.

If you suspect you may have been a victim of courier fraud, report the incident to Action Fraud UK online: www.actionfraud.police.uk or by phone 0300 123 2040.