Addresses in Lewisham and Bromley have been raided as part of a police investigation into large scale fraud valued at around £400,000.

Police conducted a number of other searches in various locations across the country which led to the arrest of nine men and one woman yesterday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering offences.

The arrests and searches form part of an investigation where unsuspecting, vulnerable and elderly victims in the south-west region are cold called by a suspect impersonating a police officer.

The suspect informs them their bank account has been compromised, deceiving victims into transferring money into an account under control of the group.

The nine, aged between 19 and 54, have been taken to a central London police station and remain in custody.