Islanders are being warned to be cautious by police, who are investigating a number of fraud cases targeting the elderly.

The force said it was investigating a growing number of cases where scammers on the island have conned elderly people into giving them large sums of money.

The force’s investigation revealed victims were duped into believing they were helping someone who claimed to be in financial trouble.

Police urged people to check on elderly relatives if they transferred money to people they believed to be trustworthy.

In some cases, people who didn’t realize they were being targeted may have transferred “five-figure sums of money,” officers said.

Residents have been warned to be cautious and not be pressured to give or borrow money under any unusual circumstances.

People who believe someone they know has been targeted are asked to contact Guernsey Police’s Criminal Investigation Department on 01481 222 222.