RESIDENTS are being warned not to fall victim to a scam operating in the region where fraudsters pretend to be police officers.

Cleveland Police received a report of an attempted courier fraud scam on Tuesday where a fraudster impersonated a police officer and attempted to target the victim over the phone.

The fraudster contacted the victim and told her she owed tax payments and if she didn’t pay £2,500 she would be issued with a court order and jailed.

Luckily the victim did not send any cash.

A police spokesman said: "Cleveland Police would like to make it clear that officers or banks would never ask you to withdraw/ transfer cash or give money to a courier to pick up.

"If you receive an unexpected call where someone asks for your bank details or for you to withdraw cash, put the phone down.

"Tell a trusted family member or friend and report the incident to police.

"Officers would again appeal for anyone with older or vulnerable friends and relations about courier fraud and to stress the messages as given by police.

"Cleveland Police continues to work with forces and financial institutions nationally, as well as the National Crime Agency and NERSOU (the North East Regional Specialist Operations Unit) to counter this activity and a number of arrests have been made in connection with this type of fraud in the past."