Dorset Police is warning people about an ingenious new scam.

Offenders are contacting people by telephone, pretending to be a police officer or a member of bank staff. They quite often know your name and which bank you bank with.

They will either state that they have a suspect in custody who has been using your bank details or that your bank account has been compromised and that the bank staff involved are corrupt and are giving out counterfeit notes.

They will keep you on the phone sometimes for hours and very often request you to leave the phone live and off the hook. They may also bombard you with telephone calls over several hours.

The offenders will then ask you to assist with their investigation and will request you to go to the bank and withdraw several thousands of pounds. They will ask you to keep this to yourselves as if you tell anyone it will jeopardise the investigation.

If you have a mobile, they will ask you to keep the line open when you travel to the bank and when in the bank so they can listen to your conversation. They will instruct you to tell lies to the bank when they ask you questions about the reasons for your withdrawal.

On your return home they will ask you to read out some serial numbers on the bank notes and will tell you that they are counterfeit. They will then do one of two things:

• The offenders may ask you to package up the notes and will provide an address to send the package to. They will tell you to go to the post office and send the package special delivery. On your return from the post office, they will ask you for the tracking number, allowing the offenders to track the package themselves.

Or

• The offenders may send a courier to your home address and they will ask you to use a password. The courier will give you the password when picking up the package, as they will be part of the scammers’ team.

If you have been subject to this scam or a similar one, please contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email at 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101. Alternatively, to stay 100 per cent anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or call Freephone 0800 555 111.

To find out more about fraud, its many types and how you can report it follow this link: https://www.service.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/?frc=55 or visit Action Fraud at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ or on 0300 123 2040.