MORE than £100 million worth of fraud – often targeting vulnerable and elderly customers – has been prevented through the Banking Protocol.

This is a UK-wide scheme that enables bank branch staff to spot potential fraud victims and request an immediate police response.

The latest figures from UK Finance reveal that 539 calls have been made through the rapid response scheme to Hampshire Constabulary since its launch in the region in June 2017.

An average of £6,841 worth of fraud was prevented per call.

The initiative has led to the arrest of 16 suspected fraudsters in the region. The total amount of fraud prevented in Hampshire through the Banking Protocol is £3,687,403.

The protocol was introduced to crack down on scams in which customers are tricked into visiting their bank in person to withdraw money.