A warning has been made about fraudulent payments after a pensioner couple were duped out of hundreds on their own doorstep by people pretending to be workmen. 

Police are warning members of the public to be vigilant following reports of a man and a teenage male, aged about 14, knocking on people’s doors and asking to carry out handywork at properties in County Durham and Teesside. 

A property in Hardwick has been targeted at the end of October and this month, while other warnings in Bishop Auckland, Newton Aycliffe, Middlesbrough and Stockton have been made.

The fraudsters targeted a resident who was in their 70s and offered to fix items at the property in exchange for cash.

When the resident claimed they had no cash, the fraudsters persuaded the victim to hand over a bank card for them to withdraw the cash.

Transactions amounting to hundreds of pounds were taken without the victim’s consent on six occasions.

The money taken was not the agreed price which had been discussed.

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Police are warning the public to be vigilant in a bid to prevent people from becoming victims of further fraudulent scams.

Following the incident, Durham and Cleveland Police have said: "If unexpected workmen knock on your door and you are suspicious, ask them for ID and what company they work for and call the company before you agree to anything with them.

"Genuine companies will understand the concerns.

"Anyone with information regarding the man and the teenager is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101 quoting 096676."