Elderly residents have been warned to be vigilant after a spate of attempted frauds.

Victims received phone calls from scammers pretending to be from their bank, telling them there were problems with the credit or debit cards.

They were told to hand over their PIN and other card details over the phone, and to hand over the cards to a courier who would arrive and collect it at their door.

The first victim was an 85-year-old woman in Lancing who handed over her card to a courier on Thursday, July 5. But she cancelled them before any money could be taken.

Then over the next few days, scammers targeted an 87-year-old woman and an 85-year-old woman in Crawley.

One of the women reported that a courier had turned up on her doorstep while she was on the phone to the scammers.

She was suspicious and told the man to clear off.

Thieves conned an 83-year-old woman in Copthorne to hand over her details and card. They took £1,850 before her family realised what had happened and stopped her cards.

Finally on Monday, July 9, an 80-year-old man in Worthing handed over details, losing £100.

PC Bernadette Lawrie said: “Remember, your bank will never ask for your PIN or bank card.”