THE police have launched an anti-fraud operation after a sharp rise in the number of elderly people in Devon being conned by phone calls or through the post.

Since May last year, organised crime gangs have defrauded 35 elderly victims out of life savings totalling over £600,000.

Police suspect the figure is hig-her with many incidents going unreported – the victims’ average age is 75 – and Operation Jessica has been laun-ched to reduce the likelihood of more victims.

Det Insp Pra-veen Naidoo said: “This operation is about protecting the most fragile members of our community from frauds which come through the postal system and by phone.

“By raising awareness and working with the community we intend to make Devon a less profitable environment for criminals to operate.

“We all have a role to play in preventing this type of crime, and this could be as simple as discussing these types of fraud with an elderly relative, friend or neighbour, and giving advice on what they can do to prevent themselves from falling victim.”

In liaison with Trading Stan-dards, police have identified 340 people fraudsters may be targeting.

Uniformed officers will visit people on the list, enabling them to take steps to reduce the likelihood of victimisation.

Crime Prevention Officer Donna Woolway advises people to always check the ID of anyone making contact, and if you are unsure end the call.

Be suspicious of any call purporting to be from the police or bank reporting fraud on your account, and never give your PIN, security or bank details to anyone over the phone.

If you receive a call you are unsure of, wait at least five minutes before trying to make another call to ensure that you are not re-connected to the fraudster.

Use a different phone, such as a mobile or a neighbour’s phone, but if this isn’t possible phone a known friend to test the line to confirm that you aren’t still connected to the fraudster.