Police have issued a warning over a phone scam which has claimed nearly 2,300 victims across the UK.
Fraudsters have been using courier firms to help defraud vulnerable people of their life savings.
The majority of the 2,229 victims of courier fraud during the past two years have been elderly, with police estimating that consumers have been defrauded out of millions of pounds – one victim lost £155,000.
Tweeddale MP David Mundell said: “Scammers are using the economic climate to prey on people who are struggling to find work or battling with money problems. Opportunistic con artists are targeting people who have fallen on hard times with offers of fake jobs, training and debt scams.
“It is important that people, especially the elderly, are made aware of these scams. It is always the most vulnerable people in our society who fall victims to these schemes and I would ask everyone to be vigilant and follow some of the simple steps Ofcom have suggested and remember that help is available. I would strongly encourage anyone affected to seek help either from my office or Citizens’ Advice.”