POLICE are urging people to be aware of courier scams after a 96 year-old man was conned out of thousands of pounds.

The elderly man, of Ripple, near Upton, was swindled out of £5,000 after he received a call from a woman claiming to be from Barclays Bank, in London.

She asked him if he had received his new bank card, to which he replied no, and then asked him if would like to keep the same PIN, which she recited back to him after he told her the number.

She then arranged for a courier to be sent to his home. The courier was described as a black woman, late teens to early twenties wearing a reflective jacket.

The card was then used fraudulently, with more than £5000 withdrawn in two transactions.

Inspector Edd Williams, of West Mercia Police, said: "This is slightly different to the scams which we have seen recently, and we would encourage people to be aware of this new tactic, the criminals are using.

"We are continually urging people to be vigilant to courier fraud. Please remember banks and police officers will never ask for account details or PINs over the phone. They also would not come around to your house to collect your cards or property.

"We would encourage anyone with elderly relatives or friends to talk to them about this scam, and make sure that they are aware."

If you receive a call like this hang up immediately and call 101, or 999 if it's an emergency.