Warning after police officer phone scam sees woman hand over £12,500

The woman, who lives near Chichester, received a call from a man claiming to be from the Metropolitan Police fraud squad on Wednesday, May 3, shortly after 8am, a police spokesperson said.

He told her that her bank card had been copied and she needed to withdraw £5,000, the spokesperson said.

She went to her bank, withdrew the cash and handed it to a courier who arrived at her house during the afternoon, according to the spokesperson.

The man then phoned her back on Friday (May 5) and asked her to withdraw £7,500 and again hand it to a courier, which she did, said the spokesperson.

On Sunday (May 7) she received another call, however felt suspicious and told a friend who reported it to police, the spokesperson confirmed.

Detective sergeant Graham Leaney said: “We want to raise awareness of this scam and would urge people to be vigilant.