Australians are being urged to avoid getting caught up in a relatively new scam that's cost some upwards of $45,000. Bridgette was confused when she fired up her computer earlier this year to see the screen flashing red and yellow, advising she had been "hacked".

The screen urged the 74-year-old Melbourne woman to call a fake Microsoft helpline where she connected with a "very pleasant man" who told her that her bank accounts had also been compromised. The pensioner alleged she was told do one thing to secure her accounts and get her computer back on track.

"He asked me to put my credit card, or actually all my cards, in an envelope with 'Peter' on the outside, and put it in my letterbox," Bridgette told A Current Affair.

"It was very alarming."

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She told police the alleged scammers said they would come and collect the cards, and she would be issued new ones the following day.

The letter containing her cards was picked up, and Victoria Police said they were used at a store in Sunshine in the city's west, where $30,000 was spent on jewellery.

"I am a pensioner and it takes a long time to save money over the years," she said.

Just three days later, a 73-year-old man was also targeted in the exact same type of scam.

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Police said the man received a call from someone claiming to be from his bank and directed him to put all his cards into an envelope and place it into his letterbox.

He is now $45,000 out of pocket.

The man's card was used to withdraw cash from ATMs across three different suburbs and used at the same store as Bridgette's, according to Victoria Police.

Victoria Police Detective Senior Constable Jack Aldersea hadn't seen this scheme before.

He said the scammers were honing in on what they consider to be "easy targets" — older Australians who may not be as skilled with technology.

"This is the first one that's come across our office. They prey on and take advantage of people that clearly don't deserve it," he told the Channel 9 programme.

"Unfortunately, they seem to know or find out, whichever way they do, people that are in this age bracket, and they target them.

What is the letterbox scam?

ScamWatch said letterbox scammers will typically pretend to be from a trusted organisation like a bank or IT company.