POLICE in Chard and Ilminster are supporting a campaign to warn people about the threat of courier fraud.

Zephyr, the regional organised crime unit, has rolled out a high profile publicity campaign to warn people about fraudsters who have been targeting the South-West.

Chard beat manager PC Paul Thomas said: “The criminals are preying on vulnerable elderly people, some of whom have been duped out of thousands of pounds during the past two months.”

Ilminster beat manager PC Andy Stuart added: “While there have been no offences of this kind in Chard or Ilminster, we are urging people to be vigilant.”

The number of people who have been targeted in the West Country has now topped 200, with 15 incidents in Avon and Somerset alone – including one case where a victim lost £34,000.