Police are urging people to be vigilant following reports of scam phone calls.

The warning comes after an incident in Kendal, reported on Tuesday, October 29, where a victim received a call from people pretending to be police officers.

An incident was also reported a few days earlier in Windermere.

The caller falsely claimed that someone was attempting to take money from the victim's bank account, keeping them on the line all day.

Investigations confirmed that these were not police officers, and it is suspected that this was an attempt to defraud the victim of money.

In light of these incidents, police are advising the public to be cautious of unexpected phone calls, particularly those requesting personal information.

The police have outlined several key points to help identify potential fraudsters.

Police would never ask for bank account details or PIN numbers over the phone, and never ask individuals to withdraw money and send it via a courier, taxi, bank transfer or in any other manner.

The police will also never ask you to send bank cards or personal items to anyone by courier, taxi or any other method.

If there's any doubt about the identity of the caller, individuals should put the phone down and, where possible, visit a police station in person to discuss the call.

Alternatively, call a trusted number for the police using a phone that's different from the one you received the potential scam call on.

People are also encouraged to share this information with vulnerable friends or family members.

Anyone who believes they have fallen victim to a fraud is advised to report it to the police on 101 and to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

You can also visit the website at www.actionfraud.police.uk