RESIDENTS need to "remain cautious" to protect themselves against online scammers, said top Barrow police officer.

Detective Sergeant Stephanie Goulding said the number of complaints about online scams had soared across south Cumbria in recent months.

She said:“Unfortunately we keep seeing incidents of this nature, where fraudsters target members of the public online or via telephone requesting them to send money or purchase vouchers in order to receive a large amount of money.

“Anyone who receives such a request is urged to ignore it and stop corresponding with the person or if on the phone simply hang up.

“It is often the most vulnerable in our society that these criminals target, and we need to all ensure they are educated enough to be confident against these scammers.”

DS Goulding offered the advice after gran-of-nine Katherine Jones, 69, was callously targeted out of £315.

Mrs Jones said fraudsters contacted her through Facebook messenger, claiming she would be receive a grant if she sent them iTunes voucher codes.

The ordeal has left the pensioner scared to use social media again to keep in contact with family and friends.

A spokesman for Action Fraud, the national fraud and cyber reporting centre, urged people to beaware of current scams.

He said: “Fraudsters are using iTunes gift cards to collect money from victims because they can be easily redeemed and easily sold on. Scammers trick victims into buying iTunes Gift Cards and ask them to read out or send the serial code for payment. They don’t need the physical card to redeem the value and once the code is sent, the money is lost.”

Action Fraud has offered its top tips to beat online scammers.

The spokesman for Action Fraud said: “Residents should not assume anyone who’s sent you an email or text message – or has called your phone or left you a voicemail message – is who they say they are.

“Be cautious if a phone call or voicemail, email or text message asks you to make a payment, log in to an online account or offers you a deal.

“If you get a call from someone who claims to be from your bank, don’t give away any personal details.

"Also, if you receive a suspicious email, mark it as spam and delete it to keep out similar emails in future."

Residents in doubt should always check the call or message is genuine by asking the company itself and should never call numbers or follow links provided in suspicious emails.