CRUEL bogus callers are preying on the elderly and vulnerable and conning them with a scam involving iTunes vouchers.

The fraudsters also scare their victims by telling them police are looking for them and that they will be arrested if they do not pay up in time.

Police have been putting up posters in Bury town centre warning people about the scams, some of which have also involved tricking victims into sending money at the bank.

The posters can be seen in supermarkets, shops and outlets which sell iTunes vouchers, but also banks, Castle Leisure Centre and post offices.

Officers have also been handing the posters out to the public while patrolling Bury Market.

Sgt Abed Hussein, from GMP Bury East, which covers the town centre, said: “We are receiving an increasing number of calls from our residents who are falling victim to cruel scams where they are being threatened by bogus callers.

“They also leave phone messages on their answer phones, as well as texts, letters and e-mails.

“The threats include bogus callers saying they are from HMRC and that the person owes tax and this can be paid by purchasing iTunes vouchers.

“The bogus caller keeps the victim on the phone until they purchase vouchers and have had the victim pass the serial numbers onto them.

“Victims have also received threats that the police will issue a warrant for their arrest if not paid.

“Other messages have been left on their phones to say that they are involved in a lawsuit and to press a number on their phone which would then put them through to a case worker who would ask for money.”

Many of the victims are elderly and do not have access to computers, so police are trying to reach as many people as possible without using the internet, including by highlighting the issue in the Bury Times.

Posters are, however, also being shared on Greater Manchester Police’s social media channels and officers say they would like younger people to warn parents or grandparents who might not have seen them.

This type of scam involving iTunes vouchers and HMRC surfaced before in the UK in 2016, having originally been used by scammers in the USA who posed as police, attorneys, debt collectors and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents.

Sgt Hussein added: “These are despicable attacks targeting elderly and vulnerable members of the community.

“If you suspect anything at all, call police on 101.”

Age UK also offers advice about fraud.

On the charity’s website, it says: “Fraudsters are constantly finding new ways to trick people.

“Anyone can be a victim of a scam and you shouldn’t feel embarrassed about reporting it. Your report could help to ensure that other people don’t become victims of the same scam.”

Action Fraud also offers advice on what to do and how to protect yourself from scams. Visit: www. action fraud.police.uk or call 0300 1232040 for more details.