TWO women from Kingskerswell have been conned out of thousands of pounds by the south west's public enemy number one.

Both have fallen victim to a phone call scam operated by a swindler claiming to be a police detective from London investigating bogus bank card offences.

More than 70 people across the Devon and Cornwall force area have been targeted by the trickster, who is thought to have accumulated a six-figure sum since launching his big con caper at the end of last year.

Police, who have admitted taking a hammering from the villain, this week launched a poster campaign to publicise his devious practice in the hope more people will be wise to the fraudster.