Essex Police have issued an urgent warning after fraudsters posing as police officers scammed two people out of £15,000.

The incidents are the latest in a series of crimes in which mainly elderly people are targeted and tricked into revealing their bank details or handing over large sums of cash.

The pair from Loughton were two of seven residents in the Loughton, Epping, Theydon Bois and Abridge areas that were targeted yesterday.

Victims all received a call claiming to be a Metropolitan Police officer alerting them that their bank accounts had been accessed by thieves and were advised to pay their money into a ‘safe account’ held by police.

Two residents were conned of sums of £9,000 and £7,000 before realising what had happened, the other intended victims realised the callers were fraudsters and called Essex Police.

A woman in Epping almost lost a large sum but her bank raised the alarm when she tried to transfer money.

Over 120 people in the Essex have been tricked out of money since the scam began in 2013 and the total stolen is over £400,000.

DI Rob Huddleston said: "The fraudsters are trying different stories and tactics and in some cases they have phoned 25 to 30 times to try to convince their intended victims that they are genuine.

“Fortunately the majority of people have not been tricked but two people in Loughton did fall for the fraud.

"Police would never ask you for your bank details or ask you to transfer or withdraw funds.

“If you do receive calls like these do not fall for their claims and just put the phone down immediately and call police on 101.”