NINE people have appeared in court charged in connection with fraud and money laundering scams in London and Dorset.

The defendants – none of whom live in Dorset – were arrested and charged following a joint operation in the capital city yesterday involving the south west’s regional crime unit, Zephyr, and the Metropolitan Police.

It is alleged that the nine are connected to a telephone scam, in which people are contacted by a caller purporting to be from their bank and advising them of fraudulent transactions on their accounts.

Those contacted are then advised to phone the customer services department, where they are told to make transfers to a newly-created bank account.

Police believe the initial caller may not be hanging up, keeping the phone line open and leading the person contacted to believe they have connected to a legitimate bank number.

The defendants are charged with a range of offences – many are accused of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.