A teenager has been charged with fraud after a pensioner was told to hand over money from his bank account.

Police say they received a report the pensioner had withdrawn money from his account after receiving a phone call from a woman who said she was from his bank.

The woman told the elderly man his credit card has been used fraudulently and then transferred the pensioner to a man who claimed to be a police officer.

The incident happened on Tuesday, January 23, in Swanley and the man told the pensioner, who is in his 80s, his money needed to be protected from fraudsters and should be handed to a courier who would come to his home to collect it.

The teenager, who is 17, and from the Kings Cross area of London, was arrested on Thursday, January 25, outside the pensioner’s home and was subsequently charged with fraud.

He was later bailed to appear in the youth court at Medway Magistrates’ Court, in Chatham, on Tuesday, February 20.

The incident has prompted officers to issue some advice on protecting yourself against courier fraud.

Martin Very, spokesman for Kent Police, said: “The police or your bank will never send a courier to your home to collect your bank card or other items and will never ask for cash, valuables, or your PIN.

“If you receive one of these calls end it immediately without providing information.

“If you wish to call your bank use a number known to you, not one provided by the caller.

“Call from another phone, or call a friend first to ensure the offenders have been disconnected from your line.

“If you’ve handed over any personal bank details to the fraudster, call your bank and cancel your cards immediately.”