PUPILS at a Forest school created four plays highlighting the ways in which elderly people can be targeted by criminals.

Year Eight students at the Dean Academy in Lydney worked with police community support officers Tom Oliver and Dan Wilce on the presentations.

Each of the four scenarios was based on real-life incidents in Gloucestershire.

The first was about a telephone scam in which the victims were persuaded to hand over money after winning a ’prize’.

The second involved conmen who claimed to be working on behalf of a housing association.

The third highlighted the use of internet telephone service Skype to befriend and swindle vulnerable people and the last saw the use of fake water company identification to gain entry to a house and rob the owners.

Each scene also highlighted the ways in which people can protect themselves against fraudsters.

PCSO Wilce said: “We’d like to thank the Dean Academy for working with us to deliver these presentations.

“Each is based on actual situations that we have had in Gloucestershire.

“The key message is that you should never give your details or passwords.

“Your bank will never ask you for your details over the phone and housing associations have a system where their staff have a password so you can be sure they are genuine.”