Residents have been urged to beware of a bank card scam where criminals attempt to fool victims by cloning police phone numbers.

Officers have received at least six reports of this nature over the past three weeks from people living in Gravesend and Maidstone.

Potential victims were contacted by someone claiming to be from Holborn police station in London.

The scammers would claim the victims' bank card had been used fraudulently and attempt to get their account details.

Those responsible are not actually calling from a police station but change their caller ID to make it appear like they are - a process known as "spoofing".

One woman was contacted by someone claiming to be from South Wales Police.

The victim received several calls with phone numbers appearing to match the local force, as well as other agencies including the Home Office and HM Treasury.

She was told her identity had been stolen and advised of steps to safeguard her money, which included transferring cash from her account to a different one.

The victim was warned not to tell anyone and even threatened with arrest if she failed to comply.

More than £60,000 is reported to have been stolen in separate transactions.

DC Fiona Dalzell of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said that police officers will never ask people to pay money over the phone or try and obtain any bank details.

"Never give out your personal information in response to an incoming call or rely upon the caller ID as the sole means of identification – especially if the caller is asking you to do something that will affect you financially," they said.

"If you receive a suspicious call, hang up the phone and call a trusted number, such as a family member or friend, from a different phone, or wait at least five minutes to ensure the line has cleared.

"This will ensure you are not still talking to the same fraudster or an accomplice.

"Contact your bank immediately if you think you may have been scammed and also report the incident to Action Fraud."

DC Dalzell suggested people remember the ABC rule, which is never Assume it is police, never Believe it is police and always Confirm by taking their details and ringing back via 101.

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