DETECTIVES are warning people to be on their guard after two pensioners were swindled out of thousands of pounds by a bogus police officer.

In both cases the victims, both from Durham City, received a phone call from a man claiming to be from the police in the London area, investigating a fraud.

The conman convinced them to move money from their bank accounts into other accounts, claiming their accounts were unsafe.

The cash was then siphoned off electronically, leaving the victims thousands of pounds out of pocket.

The bogus caller had a “non-local” accent. Police are now trying to trace him.

Detective Sergeant Martin Wilson, of Durham Police, said: “The police would never ring members of the public asking for bank details or ask them to transfer money from their accounts.

“I would urge people to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to us via 101.”

There have been similar incidents in the Northumbria force area.

In some of these cases, the caller arranged for a bogus courier to collect money. Others posed as bank workers.