AN ELDERLY woman was conned by a man who visited her home as part of an elaborate banking scam.

Police have released CCTV footage of a man they want to speak to in connection with the incident, which happened in Poole on Friday, August 16.

Officers say the victim received a phone call from a man who claimed to be the manager of NatWest bank. He told her that her accounts were being merged and asked her to visit her bank to trade her two cards.

She would then be issued with one new card, he said.

The victim said she was unable to visit her bank in person, and the caller said someone would visit her home to collect the two cards.

Later that day, a man arrived at the address and the victim handed over the cards.

Two of the victim’s stolen cards were then used to withdraw cash at 3.05pm the same day at the cashpoint at Tesco in Fernside Road.

A further attempt was made in Hackney in London, but this was unsuccessful.

Inspector Phil Swanton, of Dorset Police, said: “As part of our investigations we have obtained CCTV images of the suspect from the bank card theft and I am urging anyone who recognises this man to please contact Dorset Police.

“Yet again I want to reiterate advice that we have issued previously.

"Please remember, the bank will never send someone to your home to collect your bank cards or ask for your PINs.

"If someone calls you claiming to be from your bank and you are unsure of their validity, we would urge you to ask for their name, hang up and contact your bank directly.

“Please share this advice with elderly family members and ensure they know what to do if they experience this type of scam.

“Finally, if you or someone you know has been contacted in similar circumstances, please contact Dorset Police.”

For more information, visitdorset.police.uk/help-advice-crime-prevention/scams-fraud-cyber-crime/

Anyone with information on the identity of the man in the CCTV images is asked to contact police via dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55190128763.