CUMBRIA Trading Standards have issued a warning to residents in regard to courier fraud.

The public body explained that victims are receiving calls from offenders pretending to be police officers.

A spokesman said: "Courier fraud is when victims receive a phone call from a criminal who is pretending to be a police officer or bank official.

"Don’t assume a phone call is authentic just because someone knows your name and address."

Action Fraud also explained that criminals may also convince the victim to transfer money to a ‘secure’ bank account, hand over their bank cards or give the criminals high value items, such as jewellery, watches and gold (coins or bullion).