Police in Copeland are warning residents about a phone scam that has been doing the rounds in the area.

Fraudsters have been telephoning elderly and vulnerable residents and trying to trick them into handing over money in the form of UKASH vouchers.

On Friday 27th January police received a report from an elderly female living in Whitehaven, who reported she had received a call from a male who said he was from the UK Ministry of Finance and called himself Tom Brown. He said the woman was owed money, but would need to pay an admin fee to release the funds. The caller asked the resident to purchase a £99 UKASH voucher from any pay point and call them back with the voucher code. They said they would ring the resident back and, once the funds from the UKASH voucher had been cleared, a male called Peter Webb would call at her property at 3pm and hand over £3,400. 

In the meantime, the lady grew suspicious and called police, who attended her home, and while the police officer was in the property the resident received two further calls from the man claiming to be from the UK Ministry of Finance. The officer then spoke to the man who gave them the following number to call him back: 0203 239 0449.  When the officer identified himself the man terminated the call. The officer remained in the property and at 3pm no one turned up.

Police have received two further reports of this nature, so are urging residents to be on guard, and are asking people to spread the word and warn friends and relatives not to be duped by the scam.

To date, nobody has handed over any money or voucher codes.

Anyone who receives a phone call like this should hang up and report the matter to police on 101.

Further information about fraud prevention can be found online at www.actionfraud.org.uk or call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.