A vulnerable pensioner was conned by fake police detectives in a telephone scam.

The 82-year-old from East Hoathly near Uckfield handed over thousands of pounds to the scammers on Monday this week.

On the phone, a man claimed to be a detective sergeant investigating a bank "fiddle", with the use of fake banknotes.

He convinced the villager to go to his bank and take out £5,000 in cash, and say nothing to staff in case they were involved in the supposed fiddle.

The victim then read out serial numbers on the cash, and the scammer told them they were counterfeit, and said a courier would arrive to collect the cash.

He later withdrew a further £3,600 after being told the serial numbers were not genuine.

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At 5.40pm a courier arrived and took the cash. The victim was told officers would phone again later, but they did not.

Police are investigating, and want to hear from anyone who may have seen the courier or his car.

PC Louis Morley said the suspect was a black man aged between 18 and 20, 5ft 8ins tall, with short black hair. He wore a black satin bomber jacket, black trousers and black shoes.

He said: "Unfortunately the victim has had to accept he may never see his money again.

"The people who carry out this type of crime are extremely plausible, often claiming to be authority figures, and use a well-rehearsed patter and methods deliberately aimed at duping their victims into parting with cash."

Anyone with information about the scam should contact Sussex Police online or call 101 and quote 1148 of 19/11.

For more information about how to beat scammers, visit: www.sussex.police.uk/advice.

Have you been affected by scammers in Brighton and Hove or Sussex? Share your story with the crime reporter. Email: aidan.barlow@theargus.co.uk - Call 01273 021383 or follow on Twitter @ArgusAidan