A woman called the police after a conman attempted to swindle her out of money using a 'courier' scheme.

Police in the Lewes and Wealden districts are now urging people to be alert following an attempted fraud in Seaford on Thursday June 16.

A woman was telephoned by a man claiming to be from a County Court in London and saying that she was entitled to a cheque payment, but would first have to provide a pre-payment card, to be collected from her address, to meet a process fee.

The householder was not taken in and contacted Sussex Police.

Seaford officer Sergeant Stuart Mullins said: "This appears to be the latest version of courier fraud, where a telephone caller persuades a victim to provide money that will be collected from them, in return for the promise of something else - in this case a cheque.

"Such callers are always very plausible and convincing in what they saty, but remember no one genuinely providing a refund or cash payment will ever ask for a handling fee or for it to be collected from your home.

"Our advice is that no matter how convincing these people sound, or however much they appear to know about you, do not engage with them but contact the police."