A WOMAN in her 80s was targeted by fraudsters in her own home in a “despicable” crime.

At around midday on Monday, the victim was called on her landline by a fraudster claiming to be from HSBC who said they were renewing her bank and asked to her to put her latest bank statement and bank cards into an envelope for collection the same afternoon.

He also asked for her PIN number.

The man become angry when the woman told him she didn’t like giving out her PIN number and said if she didn’t believe him to look on the back of the card and call the legitimate number for the bank.

The victim hung up and dialled the number and spoke to a man who said he was from the HSBC fraud department. However, it was the fraudster who had remained on the line.

While on the phone, another man rang the door to her flat on Poole Road, Bournemouth, and asked for the envelope.

When she refused to hand it over, the man on the phone became aggressive and threatened to cancel everything with the bank.

The victim then returned to the door, but the man grabbed the envelope and ran off.

Later the same day, the victim’s bank cards were used on two occasions to withdraw a total of £1,000.

The money has since been refunded by the bank.

Police have now released a CCTV image of a man in connection with the incident.

Detective Constable Nicky Sharpe, of Bournemouth CID, said: “This was a despicable and targeted crime on an elderly woman in the very place she should have been safe.

“The suspect and his accomplice used underhand tactics to convince their victim to hand over her bank cards and personal information for their own greed.”

Officers from the local neighbourhood policing team have been carrying out high-visibility patrols.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55180072862.