An 80-year-old woman tricked out of £28,000 is the latest victim of rogue traders targeting vulnerable people.

A fraudster told the elderly woman from Wallington, who asked not to be named, that a sewer pipe running underneath her and a neighbouring property’s garden had burst.

The caller, posing as a representative of the other property, wanted an immediate payment of £3,000 towards the work.

The woman later received two phone calls from hoax callers disguised as solicitors following up the incident.

They demanded £15,000 as a deposit for machinery and £10,000 as a payment to a new drainage company as the original company had folded.

Payments totalling £28,000 were made before a hold was put on her bank account, thereby stopping the further demanded payment of £20,000 going out.

No work has been undertaken to date.

PC Duncan Harris, of Sutton’s crime prevention team, said residents should never give out their bank account details or Pin numbers to anyone or give their bank cards to callers on the doorstep.

He also urged residents to keep callers shut outside until their identity can be confirmed by the company they claim to represent.

Gary Wearing, a PCSO at Safer Neighbourhood for Worcester Park, said: “If people are honest they are not going to mind you checking them.

“If they are out to make a legitimate house call they will come back at a time convenient for you.”

Councillor Simon Wales, executive member for communities, transport and voluntary sector on Sutton Council, added: “You should also try to protect people who could be more susceptible to scams like these, such as older family members and neighbours.”