A scam which nearly cost a woman in her 80s more than £6,000 was averted thanks to call takers at Suffolk police.

The daughter of the 83-year-old, from Chelmondiston, called police on August 22 saying her mother had taken out £6,450 in cash from her bank account and sent it in a taxi to London.

Earlier in the day, a man claiming to be from the Metropolitan Police called the woman saying there was a man in custody with all her bank details – she was told to withdraw funds and send money in cash via taxi to the capital.

She was assured by the caller it would mean she wouldn’t be out of pocket so she took money out of her bank in Ipswich.

When she returned home she was contacted again by a man claiming to be from her bank who arranged for money to be collected by a taxi company.

The woman’s daughter arrived at her home and when she found out what had happened, called police straight away.

Inspector Richard Gubbins from Suffolk Police’s Contact and Control Room: “We received the call from the lady’s, understandably concerned, daughter.

“One of our call takers took down all the relevant information and then the matter was picked up by one of our Dispatchers, who identified this as requiring prompt attention.”

After enquiries were made, the taxi company was identified and the vehicle containing the money was stopped on the A12 heading to London – the company was not involved in the scam.

The money has now been returned to the woman.

Chief Superintendent Jon Brighton, county policing commander for Suffolk police said: “People who carry out scams like this, prey on elderly and vulnerable people and use tactics which sound plausible, often scaring their victims into carrying out their request.

“It is encouraging to see that the quick thinking actions of team members in our Contact and Control Room averted this scam from happening and the lady has been reunited with her money.”