A “vulnerable” Hertfordshire victim was scammed into withdrawing £18,500 and handing it over.

The fraudster phoned up the Borehamwood resident claiming to be a police officer investigating fraud on their bank account and told them withdraw cash from their account so they could check the serial numbers on the notes.

They were asked to stay on the phone whilst withdrawing the cash and take the money to a nearby car park, where it was collected by a man driving a delivery van.

The scammer contacted the victim two more times during April and May, last year, again instructing them to withdraw cash and hand it over to a waiting courier.

Detective Inspector Pete Hankins, from the Serious Fraud and Cyber Unit, said there have been less reports of "courier scams" over the past year but “a significant number of residents” are still being targeted.

He added: “Fraudsters use different stories to convince people they are genuine, the important thing to remember is that police officers or bank staff would never ask for people’s bank details, like a PIN, or for cash to be handed over.

"You should never give your bank details to anyone.”

The victim was reimbursed in full by their bank after police investigated the fraud.