SCAMS affecting the over 60s are said to have doubled in the past three years - with nearly 49,000 reported cases last year, a figure which is thought to be just the tip of the iceberg.

The perpetrators are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often receiving specialist training, in some cases conning their victims out of tens of thousands of pounds.

Monmouth MP David Davies has seen an example of it in his own street where rogue roofers tried to persuade one of his neighbours – ‘a vulnerable gentleman in his 90s’ – to pay for unnecessary repairs.

“It’s a real problem here in Monmouthshire, perhaps because of the number of elderly residents.

“I think these scammers are the lowest of the low and I would campaign for them to receive longer prison sentences,” he told the Beacon.

Action Fraud figures show that Computer Software Service fraud is in the top five most reported types - starting with a phone call, email or pop-up message on your computer, stating there is something wrong with your computer or internet connection that needs to be fixed.

The organisation this week launched a campaign to warn people about the threat, having received 22,609 reports of this con alone in 2017/18, with more than £21m being lost to fraudsters.

An intelligence report run by the City of London Police’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has shown that men and women are equally susceptible to being scam targets and the average age of a victim is 63.

Elderly people are often happy to talk to - and trust - strangers or they may be unsure about IT use. Often they don’t even realise they have been scammed and the situation can quickly escalate.

Many elderly people are simply too embarrassed to tell anyone that they’ve been conned - but talking to someone is the key, according to Age Cymru.

“Scamming used to be mainly about rogue traders but it’s become a very clever and sophisticated crime,” said Communications Manager Michael Phillips.

“The biggest problem is people who are put on the so-called ‘suckers’ list’ and become mailing list targets which are shared around.”

Age Cymru is hosting a ‘scam summit’ in Swansea this Friday to address the issues involved.

One Gwent man interviewed recently on national radio was conned out of £53,000 following a spoof call which he thought was from Santander bank.

An 83-year-old Monmouthshire woman, who worked for the police and fire service for many years, was conned out of £850 by a rogue gardener who said he needed the money ‘up front’ to repair a storm-damaged awning.

For the past three years she has also been inundated with items from overseas - including ankle boots, an umbrella, Easter bunnies, candle holders and nightlights, Santa’s sleighs and ‘endless health pills’ - since ordering Belgian chocolates from a company whose leaflet arrived in the post.

“I filled in a form ordering a few things as Christmas presents and paid £20 by cheque. It just escalated. Obviously they sold on my address. I now regularly receive mail from Japan, USA, Canada, Australia.

“Initially I posted the items back but it cost me £10 so now I return anything which arrives with blue tape on it to the postman as ‘unwanted at this address’. I’ve donated some items as raffle prizes!” She has now reported the matter to the police.