POLICE are urging people to be wary of fraudsters who claim to represent legitimate organisations, following a series of incidents.

The scams involve criminals posing as representatives of various companies and requesting payment in iTunes vouchers.

“We have received a number of reports recently where victims have been persuaded to buy iTunes vouchers at shops and relay the serial numbers to the fraudsters,” said a spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary said. “The serial numbers are then sold by the fraudsters.”

Frauds involving iTunes vouchers have been reported recently in Bordon, Andover, Chandlers Ford, Fleet, and New Milton.

Staff at Tesco, Bordon, called police on February 6.

“The staff member reported concern for an 83-year-old man who had tried to buy a large amount of iTunes vouchers,” a Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said. “The victim had previously been called by a man claiming to be from BT.

“The victim had been told that his computer had been hacked and that he needed to buy iTunes vouchers as part of a plan to trap the hackers. The man promised the victim he would be refunded.”

So he bought £800 of vouchers at two different stores before being stopped by staff in Tesco.

“He has now been given safeguarding advice and is in the process of requesting a refund,” the spokesman added.

Other incidents have involved victims receiving calls from people claiming to be from telecommunications companies or payday loan providers.

Anyone concerned about similar incidents should call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.