An elderly man in East Cambs has been defrauded of over £1,000 by a cold caller.

Police have urged extra vigilance and warned how the latest scam developed.

“The scam operates on the basis of a stranger making contact with their victim offering a rebate on their mortgage,” said a police spokesman.

“The offender will impersonate a bank or building society and suggest to the victim that they are eligible for a mortgage refund. In this case the refund was said to be £8,000.

“The victim was initially advised to attend a supermarket and purchase iTunes vouchers, and then to call back a specified number to reveal the security codes to qualify.

“Subsequently the offenders ambitions escalated, and their demands increased to a transfer of £900 in cash via MoneyGram service.”

The spokesman said that in such cases the offenders will stay engaged with the victim requesting more money, and more iTunes vouchers, until eventually the victim declines to participate.

“In this case the victim realised after the money transfer had been made.”

Detective Constable Natasha Doyle said: “Victims are often left feeling humiliated and embarrassed - most often being elderly or vulnerable people.

“Typically the type of people who are victimised in this way won’t be social media savvy and won’t see this message. This is for the awareness of the elderly and vulnerable in most cases.

“We ask you to speak to the people in your lives who might be targeted in this way. You can help your friends and loved ones to avoid this type of crime.

“This criminal approach is by no means unique and we are seeing a rise in such reports.”

Anyone with information should call 101 or contact CrimeStoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.