RESIDENTS of Shipston are the latest to have been targeted by a telephone scam where card details are sought in order to rob bank accounts.

Shipston Police Safer Neighbourhood Team says there have been several reports of the scam coming into Warwickshire police every day. Three have been from the Shipston Policing area and on Tuesday this week, December 23, an 87-year-old man from Lower Quinton was targeted.

The team said that, thankfully, everyone reporting the scam from the Shipston area has realised it was a telephone scam and no money has been taken.

Police are reminding residents that no bank will ask for details or Pin numbers over the phone and if anyone does then it is likely to be a fraudulent call. They may tell you that your card has been used fraudulently and ask you to ring the bank to check. However, the scammers remain on the phone and you do not actually get in touch with your bank.

The police is asking people to use social media to pass the message around and prevent local residents from becoming victims of crime.

PC Craig Purcell said: "If you have elderly friends, relatives or neighbours who do not use Facebook or the Internet please have a chat with them and make them aware of this scam. A quick conversation may save somebody you know thousands of pounds and prevent Christmas being a time of year they would rather forget."