Warning over credit card call con

Thieves are entering offices to take people's credit cards

Thieves are stealing people's credit cards before telephoning the victims pretending to be a bank worker needing the card's details, police have warned.

Officers say a number of victims in the New Forest have reported such bogus calls after their cards were taken.

They say thieves have even been entering places of work through open back doors and taking purses and bags.

In some cases, a caller has later rung the victim saying a pin number was needed for the inquiry into the theft.

Det Sgt Stephen Edbury said: "The first time many people become aware of the theft is when they receive a call from someone purporting to be from the police or bank claiming they have caught someone using the cards and asking for pin numbers to verify the details.

"This ploy is used on unsuspecting victims who could quite easily find themselves opening the door to their bank accounts.

"Our advice is not to make it easy for the criminal - decline any requests for information, hang up and immediately report it to the police."