A VULNERABLE cancer patient was scammed out of more than £4,000 of her life savings in money, exchanged over her doorstep, just days before Christmas.

Latchford mum Jean Pink was ‘cruelly targeted’ by a fraudster impersonating an undercover police officer.

The 75-year-old was told over the phone to withdraw a large amount of cash so that she could ‘check serial numbers due to fraud’, her daughter Michelle explained.

Michelle said her mum, who is undergoing daily radiotherapy after a cancer diagnosis, was tricked into withdrawing a shocking £4,800, last Friday – just two days before Christmas.

“Normally my mum is on the ball with people who make scam phone calls but today she fell for someone who was pretending to be an undercover police officer,” she said.

“This is a new scam where they are claiming to be officers over the phone and telling people to withdraw large amounts of money so they can check serial numbers due to fraud.”

However, the most intrusive element of the scam is still yet to come as the money is then taken in person.

“They stay on the telephone until the victim is back at their home address and collect the money in person therefore there are no traces or protection present for victims, so these criminals can get away with it,” Michelle added.

Cheshire Police issued a warning to elderly residents of Warrington this month in relation to similar incidents – one which saw a 79-year-old woman told there was fraudulent activity on her account and that she would have to withdraw the same sum of money as Jean.

The scammer reportedly ordered a taxi to collect the victim and take her to NatWest bank where she was instructed to withdraw the money, and this was then reported to the police.

Michelle summarised how devastated her mum was at what took place on Friday.

“She’s absolutely mortified, upset and distraught about the whole situation.”

To help claw back some of the large amount taken by the fraudsters, Michelle has set up a Go fund Me Page.

So far generous donations have totalled to £1,375.

“Any little help would be appreciated as this was some of her life savings,” Michelle added.

“She is vulnerable and going through enough, she doesn’t need this, especially right before Christmas and I’m hoping that even if I don’t raise the full amount, a little help would cheer her up.”

Cheshire Police offered advice to residents on how to prevent ‘courier fraud’.

To donate to the funding page visit this link: gofundme.com/f/for-my-mum-who-was-cruelly-scammed?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_content=facebook_cta_variant&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook