PHONE scammers posed as police officers in a bid to trick householders into handing over their bank details.

Durham police said that twice, in the space of 15 minutes at lunchtime today, scammers tried the tactic during calls to homes in the Bishop Auckland area.

In both cases, the caller claimed to be an officer from a neighbouring police force and suggested a relative of the householder had been arrested.

In one of the calls, the fraudster said that a nephew had been arrested with several bank cards and asked the householder for details of her account to help eliminate it from the inquiry.

Police checks confirmed that no-one of that name was in custody in any regional force areas.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “In both these cases, the householder has done the right thing and contacted police to check.

“People should be on their guard and should never give out bank details over the phone."