Detectives are urging people to be wary of unexpected deliveries as they investigate two cases of fraud.

The incidents in the Canterbury area both involved people receiving mobile phones they were not expecting - before a stranger appeared on their doorstep claiming the item needed to be returned.

On Friday December 11, a parcel arrived at a property in Burgess Road, Aylesham at around 11am.

The resident wasn't expecting one and was surprised to find a mobile phone inside the box.

He called the mobile provider who said a phone had been ordered in his name, with his date of birth and address.

Suspiciously, the bank details used to pay for the phone were different to his own.

Moments later, the victim had a knock at his door from a man claiming to be from a delivery company, who told him the item was delivered by mistake and he needed it back.

The victim was suspicious of this and refused to hand the parcel over.

The man posing as a delivery person then ran away from the area, and the victim reported the incident to the police.

The previous week, at about 4pm on December 3, a similar incident took place in nearby Milner Crescent, Aylesham.

On that occasion, although the victim queried why the parcel containing a mobile phone had to be returned, it was snatched from her hands on the doorstep.

Police are treating the two incidents as being linked.

DC Sophie West from Kent Police’s Chief Constable’s Crime Squad said: "We are urging local residents to be wary of any unexpected deliveries and certainly anyone claiming to be a courier asking for items back.

"Criminals will use many different tactics to defraud innocent people and can be very persuasive, so it is important that whilst investigating such incidents we also remind everyone of the steps they can take to stay safe from fraudsters.

"If in any doubt, don't answer the door and report the incident to Kent Police or Action Fraud straight away."

Anyone with information concerning the two incidents in Aylesham is asked to call 01843 222289 quoting reference 46/219013/20 for Burgess Road, and 46/214881/20 for Milner Crescent or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or by visiting www.crimestoppers-uk.org

For safety advice visit the Kent Police website.

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