POLICE have urged people to remain vigilant after a vulnerable Barnsley man became the latest to be scammed by doorstep fraudsters who claimed to be social workers.

Officers received reports that a man had been visited by two unknown people claiming to be social workers last Wednesday.

The fraudsters gained access to the house and convinced the man that he owed some money.

The pair then took the man, who was in his 50s, to a nearby cashpoint where he withdrew £550 before the fraudsters took the money and left.

Fraud protection officer Charlotte Platts said: “Doorstep scams can happen in many forms - they can be door-to-door salespeople, someone pretending to be a trader or, in this case, pretending to be someone from an authority.

“They aren’t always pushy and may come across as polite - but this doesn’t always mean you can trust them.

“Unfortunately, we know that doorstep fraudsters often look to prey on the goodwill of vulnerable and elderly people within our local communities.”

A spokesperson from Action Fraud, which has been working alongside the police to provide more protection, urged people - and families of vulnerable people who live at home - to be cautious.

“Be wary of opening your door to a potential burglar or someone who wants to get inside your property to enable other people to break in.

“Once they get through your door, fraudulent people can take note of your valuables and any security measures you have in place.

“The aim of the doorstep criminal is to try and talk their way into your home - after all if they can walk through your front door after receiving an invite from you, why should they go to all the trouble of having to break into your property?

“Unfortunately, this type of crime does occur with callers varying in appearance and using a number of excuses to try and trick their way into people’s homes.

“They often pretend to be from a professional company such as your energy or water provider, the council or from something that seems legitimate.

“One prevalent tactic involves convincing victims to withdraw substantial sums of money from their bank accounts.

“They employ high-pressure tactics to create a sense of urgency and force victims to comply with their demands.

“The impact on the victim’s health and wellbeing can be catastrophic.”

A Barnsley Council statement urged people to report instances to Action Fraud, or 999 in an emergency.

A doorstep scam involves someone calling at your door to try and scam you out of some money or gain access to your home,” it added.

“There are different types of doorstep scams, from rogue traders to people pretending to represent charities.

“Callers may appear genuine, so it’s important to know what to look out for.

“If someone claims to be from an organisation, ask them for ID and be suspicious of requests for money.

“If someone pressures you into doing so, they’re unlikely to be genuine.

“Check with family and friends before accepting offers of help if you’re unsure.”