Conmen preying on the elderly, vulnerable and lonely over the internet are being targeted by a new specialist police squad.

Suffolk's new joint cyber crime unit with Norfolk has been set up in response to the burgeoning phenomenon of online fraud that has risen to the fore in a rapidly changing criminal landscape.

Last year in Suffolk alone there were 3,102 reported scams involving the internet or technology, prompting the setting up of a dedicated team of detectives, officers and staff with specialist expertise.

The joint unit is based in Halesworth, and was officially launched on Monday. It will be responsible for investigating offences where networked computers or technology have been used to commit crimes from child pornography to human trafficking, drugs and online fraud.

Detective Superintendent Steve Mattin, of the Norfolk and Suffolk Cyber and Serious Crime Directorate said: 'The digital revolution and the use of cyber space is now a way of normal life, in which we communicate, conduct business and make transactions and therefore the same should apply in the way we police it.'

To coincide with the launch of the new unit, police have released a series of short films to warn the public about the dangers of online fraud and how to prevent it. The films #TooGoodToBeTrue show three scenarios involving investment fraud, lottery fraud and online shopping. The videos can be viewed at www.suffolk.police.uk/toogoodtobetrue

To report online fraud or for more information contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.