Police are urging the public to be on guard as conmen continue to target vulnerable people in an ongoing bank card scam.

Elderly members of the community are being contacted by telephone by an individual claiming to be from their bank.

During the course of the conversation, the caller obtains the victim's bank details and arranges for a courier to uplift their bankcard and replace it with a new one.

The cardholder's bank account is then robbed.

The most recent incident of the scam happened in Boswall Terrace in Edinburgh on Monday.

A 65-year-old woman received a telephone call from someone impersonating a bank employee who obtained her bank details before arranging for a courier to collect her bankcard.

In this instance the scam was foiled as the bankcard had been given to staff at the woman's local bank earlier in the day.

Communities are now being reminded to report any similar calls to police immediately.

A police spokesman said: "This scam is known to be operating within the Lothians area and other areas across the central belt and the public should not be taken in by the caller's rouse no mater how convincing they sound.

"Genuine bank employees do not contact customers requesting their details, nor do they arrange uplift for bankcards and so if anyone receives a call like this, they should report the matter to their local policing team."

Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.