Police are warning of a scam involving fraudsters posing officers.

More than twenty people have been targeted around the county since the start of December including people from Hitchin.

The scam involves contact by bogus callers posing as police officers asking residents to give their bank details before being asked to hand over their bank cards or money to a courier.

The deception involves a telephone call from a mobile or a landline number, with someone posing as a police officer and informing the person there has been fraudulent activity on their bank account.

The victims were then instructed to put their bank cards and/or money into an envelope and give them to a courier or taxi, which is sent to the house by the offenders.

The offenders also request people's help in investigating the fraud and ask people to disclose their bank details, including their account and PIN numbers.

There have been 27 incidents reported to police since the start of December 2020, with victims losing a total of more than £70,000. Apart from Hitchin, the most recent victims lived in Rickmansworth, Hertford, Royston and Borehamwood.

Any bank cards successfully collected can then be used later by the offenders to withdraw large sums of money.

Detective Inspector Rob Burns, from the Serious Fraud and Cyber Unit, said: "We have seen more people being targeted by this type of scam over the past month, and unfortunately some victims have lost a lot of money.

"Police officers or bank staff would never ask for people's bank details, like a PIN, or for cash to be handed over. You should never give your bank details to anyone.

"Usually the intended victim realises the call is not genuine and refuses to part with their details or cash.

"However, these fraudsters can be very persuasive and insistent, which has resulted in some people falling victim to this scam and subsequently losing thousands of pounds from their accounts."

If you receive a call you're not expecting, you should be suspicious. The vital things to remember are that your bank and the police would:

NEVER ask for your bank account details or PIN number over the phone, so do not disclose these to anyone, no matter who they claim to be.

NEVER ask you to withdraw money and send it to them via a courier, taxi or by any other means.

NEVER ask you to send your bank cards, or any other personal property, to them via courier, taxi or by any other means.

If you are not happy with a phone call and are suspicious of the conversation you have with the caller then please end the call and dial 101.

Remember, when reporting a suspicious phone call to police, wait at least five minutes before attempting to make the call to ensure you're not reconnected to the offender.