DETECTIVES have charged three men in connection with a number of incidents of fraud in and around Alton.

Lungangi Amani, 20, of Lloyd Baker Street, London; Rakeem Worthington, 20, of Provident Place, Middlesex; and Abdullah Hajji, 20, of Flaxman Terrace, London, have all been charged with conspiring to commit fraud by false representation.

The three men are due to appear at Winchester Crown Court on Wednesday, September 16.

The charges relate to a number of incidents where elderly people have been called by someone claiming to be a police officer who asks them to divulge personal banking information or to withdraw cash from their accounts. Victims are then told a courier or taxi driver will drive to their home address to collect the cash.

Detective Constable Ian Cullen said: “I would urge people to check before talking to anyone on the phone about their personal banking. You will not usually be asked to disclose details of your PIN by anyone.”

If someone comes to your door claiming to be a police officer or similar, always ask for identification and make a note of their ID number. Ask them to wait while you verify their identity. Close the door and call 101.