A husband and wife lost more than £3,000 in a week after being lured into a scam.

The couple, from Thornton Road, Carshalton, had been approached by a bogus payment protection insurance company, who told the couple they could claim £3,690 compensation for the mis-selling of an insurance product if they made an advance payment of £369.

The couple were told their payment had to be made in Ukash vouchers - a genuine system where cash is converted into vouchers of the same value to be spent on the internet. It is favoured by people who do not have debit cards.

However, if voucher codes become known to anyone else - then the money can be stolen. The couple provided them with their codes, gradually handing over more money as they were told they could get more compensation if they handed over more cash.

They eventually stole £3,314 - which police found when they investigated had been spent on online gambling sites.

In another case, a woman in her 30s living in Carshalton, had paid out £100 in Ukash vouchers to obtain £5,000 for a loan which never materialised.

Police are advising residents to refuse to make such payments upfront to secure a promise of a much larger lump sum.

Detective Constable Mark Turner said there are many proper and reputable companies that can assist people with valid PPI claims or those looking for loans, and customers would be well advised to seek relevant professional financial advice at the outset.