RESIDENTS in their 70s have been targeted by telephone fraudsters pretending to be from the HMRC or the police.

Police said numerous reports have been received from around Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford, and North Worcestershire about a type of telephone fraud that targets elderly or vulnerable victims.

Although the detail of each report varies, all involve a caller pretending to be from HMRC or the police persuading the call recipient to hand over bank details, personal details and/or money.

Yesterday two people were targeted in Hereford. A man in his 70s received a call from someone who claimed to be from Hammersmith Police Station investigating a bank card theft.

While a woman in her 70s, who is seriously ill, was called by a man pretending to be from the Inland Revenue, investigating her for tax evasion.

He claimed she needed to pay him a sum of money, or she would be put in prison or fined £10,000.

These incidents are being investigated under Project Prospero which is an ongoing West Mercia Police operation working in conjunction with Action Fraud - the UK's national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre.

Inspector Emma Wright of the West Mercia Police Economic Crime Unit said: "Please remember that no legitimate bank/building society, police officer, government organisation or business will ever phone you to ask you to give them your card, your PIN, or your cash in the way we've described.

"The incidents we're investigating under Project Prospero are all deliberately targeted at older or vulnerable people, which makes them particularly cruel and immoral.

"Often, the phone caller will tell the victim their bank account has been subject to a fraud and that they must cooperate with an 'investigation'. The victim is then persuaded to withdraw funds and hand them over to the 'investigators', either by some remote means or in person to a courier.

"Alternatively the victim may be asked to hand over bank cards, vouchers or other valuable items. They may also be asked to transfer funds to another account, which is controlled by the fraudsters.

"These scams can be extremely convincing and manipulative. The fraudsters may give (alleged) crime numbers, investigation details, and job titles. They will always claim that the transaction must be done in secret. The fraudsters condition their victim not to trust bank branch staff, which can make it hard for those staff to help."

How to handle a suspicious call

• Hang up - do not provide any personal details or hand anything over.

• Wait 10 minutes before making another call to ensure that the fraudsters have not kept your line open.

• Then report it to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040.

• If the incident is still in progress, because for example, you have recently provided bank details or handed over cards or cash, or the caller has arranged for someone to visit your address to collect money/items, call the police on 101.

• In an emergency - if somebody is threatening you or has come to your home to demand money/items - dial 999.

• If you need some support from your bank or building society, go to your local branch or phone them on the correct number (not one a mystery caller gives you, as this is likely to be part of the scam).

• Trust your instincts: apply the same logic you would in the real world if a stranger with an unusual story asked for your money or your private information.