Sussex Police has released a new video to highlight vulnerable victims of fraud.

The force and Home Office have been working together to protect those vulnerable to all types of fraud, known as Operation Signature, which range from investment to romance scams.

Increasingly fraudsters pose as officials to dupe vulnerable people into giving them money.

The new film is currently being delivered to a variety of audiences, focusing on banks and community groups, and awareness sessions are also taking place.

Bernadette Lawrie, financial abuse safeguarding officer, who helped produce the film, said: "The new film encompasses all different fraud types affecting the vulnerable and elderly.

"It can be used to present the subject of these kinds of frauds to a variety of audiences and enable us to get across the impact of scams and frauds on vulnerable victims as well as providing advice and guidance around protective measures.

"We have already done lots of work with Trading Standards focusing on scam mail. Operation Signature now looks at all vulnerable victims of fraud."

The film features Dennis, aged 87 from Worthing, who was conned out of about £1,000 by scammers who contacted him pretending to be his bank as well as the police.

Courier fraud, where fraudsters call and trick people into handing over cards, cash and PIN numbers to a courier on your doorstep, by pretending to be the police or banks has risen over the last year.

This year there have been 960 reports of this type of crime in Sussex, most have been unsuccessful but on 71 occasions money was lost by victims totalling £526,682.

Detective Inspector Gill Sole added: "I would urge everyone to continue to spread the word, speak to your relatives and friends about this, and stop these criminals.

"Trust no-one who cold calls you about your bank account or a problem with your computer.

"Under no circumstances would the bank or police request a card PIN or security details over the telephone or arrange collection of bank cards from a home address.

"If you are suspicious contact the police on a different phone line if you have received a call you don't trust or weren't expecting.

"Don't be afraid to say no and put the phone down, and tell someone about it if you have any doubt at all."

If you, or someone you know, is being targeted by fraud/scams please contact Sussex Police on 101 or www.sussex.police.uk.

If you have been a victim of crime, you can report this to Action Fraud, the national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre on 0300 123 2040.