An elderly New Malden couple were scammed out of £7,000 of their life savings for damp proofing which was never done.

The pensioners, who live in Lynton Close, were targeted by a group who claimed they belonged to a company called Rockex.

Rockex, a company based in Bicester, in Oxfordshire said it was not involved and blamed people impersonating their staff.

The scammers convinced the pair they should pay out £2,000 up front to get rid of a damp wall inside their home.

But they later pressured them to dish out even more as they were told they would need an extra £5,000 to pay for expensive tools and machinery for the repair.

The work was never done and they stopped responding to calls after they received the money.

They have reported the scam to the police.

Daughter Neia Glynn, who lives in Ruston Avenue in Berrylands, said: "I am so upset. It is obviously organised.

"My parents are very trusting people. "My dad always sees the best in people so it would not have even crossed his mind. My dad is quite immobile – they just have no compassion.

"They are just going to scam someone who is so vulnerable. I just can’t believe it."

The elderly couple received a phone call from someone posing as a Halifax bank employee who aoppeared to know about their bank activities.

The bank said it would never call in that way.

A spokesman from Rockex, a company based in Bicester, in Oxfordshire, said: “These incidents are clearly extremely distressing for the victims not only because they can involve the loss of many thousands or even tens of thousands of pounds but also because of the deep sense of frustration and anger at the feeling of being duped.

"Whilst these criminals are extremely clever in their methods, it is worth emphasising that they cannot be regarded in any way as legitimate traders."

Detective Sergeant Vicky Washington, from Kingston police, said: "This type of crime often focuses on the most vulnerable individuals in our community. I urge anyone who is suspicious of callers at the door or people purporting to be workmen not to let them into your homes before checking their identification. If there is any suspicion or concern regarding them, contact your local police straight away.

“Kingston Police are keen to stamp out this crime and will work with partnership organisations to raise awareness of this trend and identify and prosecute those responsible.”