Older residents are being urged to be on alert after scammers stole £100,000 in Richmond in the past six months.

Typically, scammers ring a household usually pretending to be a police officer investigating a crime.

They often ask for bank account details or help in undercover operations by getting the person to withdraw large sums of money from their account.

The council has partnered with the police to launch a fraud prevention campaign, which includes producing a video featuring a victim of a scam.

Resident Mrs Jones received a call from a scam artist.

She said: “My friend and I were about to go out when the phone rang with the caller claiming to be from New Scotland Yard’s Fraud Department. They asked whether I’d lost my card and I said no.

“He told me someone up north was taking money from my account and would I help in an undercover operation to catch them.

“They asked me to go and withdraw £7,000 form my account but the bank refused.

“The scammer told me to go to Richmond to buy a Rolex.

“I did what they asked because people in my age group completely trust the police – I didn’t for a second think it was a scam.”

If a call like this is received, police are encouraging residents to keep in mind the acronym FRAUD:

• Find out what the caller wants

• Request their name and warrant number

• Always call 101 to check the information

• Use a different phone

• Don’t be rushed or give the person anything.

Councillor Mark Boyle, cabinet member for community safety said: “We have seen an increase these kinds of scams over the last year, so we are encouraging residents to remain really vigilant.

“If you do receive an unsolicited call, don’t be rushed into giving away any personal information, and if you think you’ve been a victim of a phone scam you should contact the police.”

DC Peter Evans said: “This type of crime is very prevalent in Richmond at the moment with about 70 cases in the last six months.

“We want to encourage people to think F.R.A.U.D when you get an unsolicited phone call and exercise caution if you feel the caller is behaving suspiciously.”

Police and the Council are encouraging people to raise awareness of the scam among their friends and family. If you think you’ve been a victim of a phone scam you should contact Police.