AN ALERT has been raised after more elderly residents in our area fell victim to the latest courier scam.

Gloucestershire police received five more reports about fraudsters purporting to be police officers calling 01285 numbers on Tuesday, April 2. 

In all cases the scammers said they were from Cirencester police station and during two of the calls they used the names James Maddison and Martin Cooper.

The fraudsters tell victims that unauthorised purchases have been made using their bank card and then instruct them to withdraw cash and purchase Euros which are then handed over to a “police courier” as “evidence" for the investigation.  

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire police said: "This type of fraud is called courier fraud and specifically targets the elderly.

"The average victim of courier fraud in Gloucestershire is 79 years old.

"Please warn your elderly friends, neighbours, and relatives of this scam.

"If you have been the victim of fraud, or simply want to report a suspicious telephone call, message, or email, then please visit the government's new online fraud platform stopthinkfraud."