A 22-year-old man has been charged with fraud by false representation after an elderly Rickmansworth woman was targeted in a phone scam.

The victim, in her 70s, was phoned by a man claiming to be a police officer investigating fraudulent use of her bank cards.

She was asked to withdraw a large amount of cash from her bank account and hand it to a courier, who was sent to collect the money later that day.

The crime took place last Thursday.

Sonny Greenaway, of Gulland Walk, was arrested in London later that day.

Mr Greenaway appeared at Hatfield Remand Court on February 1 and was remanded into custody. Hertfordshire Constabulary is warning people that officers will not ask people to reveal their personal bank account details, including PIN numbers and will never ask someone to withdraw money.

Anyone faced with a similar call should not part with personal information or money and call police immediately via the non-emergency number 101.