IDENTITY fraudsters who drained the bank accounts of victims by visiting branches in Bolton and Bury are being hunted by police.

Two Barclays Bank customers lost a total of £112,000 in cash withdrawals and debit card purchases between September 10 and October 6.

Police have now released CCTV of a man they want to speak to in connection with the thefts.

Officers said the bank had earlier taken calls from men purporting to be the victims and requesting new debit cards, a credit card and PINs for each.

The offenders passed all security questions and the new cards and PINs were sent via post.

Det Sgt David Henshall said: "Both victims have now been reimbursed by the bank, meaning that Barclays is now the victim of this crime.

"But that should take nothing away from the severity of the fraud, which has seen two innocent people have their identities stolen and their accounts hacked.

"There was a total disregard for their privacy and their personal property, with the fraudsters taking a close look at each victim’s financial statements before extracting as much money as possible from each."

Over the course of several hours on September 22 five withdrawals of £4,850 were taken from account of the first victim at various branches around Greater Manchester.

Between October 4 and 6 the second victim's account was drained of £92,700.

The money was taken out of cash points at Barclays Bank branches throughout Greater Manchester and Cheshire. In total there were 22 transactions.

Police said Barclays Bank branches in Bolton and Bury were among those visited by the thieves but would not say which cash machines were used and when.

Then, on October 7 a man walked into Goldsmith’s jewellers in the Trafford Centre and attempted to buy a watch costing £26,400 using one of the victim’s cards. The purchase was declined.

The man was captured on CCTV and it is a still from the store security camera that is being circulated by police in a bid to track him down.

Det Sgt Henshall said: "We are very keen to speak to the man pictured in Goldsmiths, who attempted to buy a watch with one of the stolen cards.

“If you know who this man is, please contact police and help us bring those responsible for this high value fraud to justice."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 3221, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.