A CHARITY for the elderly say they are ‘shocked’ at the news that Forest of Dean residents are being conned out of their money by scammers.

Gloucestershire Police have warned older residents to be on their guard against the fraudsters who have targeted them by pretending to be bank workers and saying they need to change their existing bank card for a new one.

Indeed, a number of elderly Forest residents have reported the scam to the police.

When the residents are contacted on the phone by the fraudsters, they are told their bank cards will be replaced by new-style ones.

They trick the elderly residents by saying they need to take the current card before the new one can be sent to them.

However, armed with the card and the resident’s PIN number, which they also trick them out of, the fraudsters go to cash machines at the bank and take out money while also going to shops and having a spending spree.

It has left a senior member of the county’s Age UK charity deeply distressed.

Chief executive Mr Rob Fountain said: “This is a shocking example of fraudsters taking advantage of older members of the public and this type of activity makes people feel particularly vulnerable as the crime has taken place in their own home."

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