FRAUDSTERS posing as police officers have scammed more than £80,000 out of East Lancashire pensioners in the past month.

Elderly people in Blackburn, Rishton, Mellor and Clayton-le-Dale have been conned both over the phone and in person 33 times since the start of February.

MORE TOP STORIES:

One victim’s daughter described the tactic as ‘invasive’ while older people’s champions labelled it ‘absolutely appalling’.

The criminals are reported to trick victims by saying their bank accounts have been targeted and money should be transferred or withdrawn to prevent further ‘harm’.

The scammers then give their own bank details - pretending that the account is ‘safe’ - or turn up in person posing as police and carrying out ‘fingerprint tests’ to steal the cash.

One woman, whose 82-year-old mother, from Burnley, lost £10,000, said: “It was her life savings. Everything really. People have worked hard their whole lives to build up a reserve.

“My dad’s gone and the little he had, mum took on. She is devastated. It has really affected her. She feels she has been made a fool of and been tricked.

“She’s worried that she should have known better, but he completely convinced her.

“It’s not just about the money. It’s invasive. It’s taken away her privacy. She lives alone and she thinks someone is watching her.”

Most of those targeted are in their 70s and 80s, prompting Lancashire police to plead with families to warn their loved ones about the risk of being conned, Det Con Barry James from Burnley CID said: “These are despicable crimes against vulnerable, elderly victims.

“I would like to remind people to be vigilant and if you get this type of phone call, report it to the police and your bank before transferring any money into another account or agreeing to hand any of your cash over.

“People who commit these offences will often target the elderly posing as officials to gain their confidence and trust. No police officer or other official body will ever ask for your bank details or would ever ask you to withdraw or transfer funds.

“If you have an elderly friend or relative, please let them know that this is happening so they can avoid becoming a potential victim.”

Deborah Kirkup, director of business development at Age UK Lancashire, said people from older generations were more likely to trust police officers.

She said: “It is absolutely appalling that this vulnerable section of society is picked on in this way.

“Older people grew up at a time when you could trust other people even to the point of leaving your front door open.

“It’s not the case any more and a lot people are finding it very difficult to adjust. We would stress to people that if you aren’t sure about who you are dealing with, don’t engage with what they want.

“Posing as police officers is particularly atrocious because you are supposed to be able to trust them.”

Cllr Brian Taylor, Blackburn with Darwen’s older people’s champion, said he would raise the matter at the next meeting of Blackburn with Darwen older people’s forum.

He added: “I just hope they find those responsible and that they face the full rigours of the law and are taken off the streets if possible.

“It is nasty to pose as police because people of that age trust police officers. Words fail me.

“I think we need to get the message out there to prevent more victims. All elderly people are a possible target. It is terrible.”

DC James said police were working with the national Action Fraud centre to try to catch the con artists.

He said: “We are working with colleagues throughout Lancashire and the rest of the country and will do everything we can to track down the heartless criminals committing these offences, defrauding these people, out of in some cases, their life savings.”

Anybody with information can contact police on 101, Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.