More Incidents of Telephone Fraud Reported in Worcestershire

This press release from West Mercia makes for depressing reading, but emphasises how these organised telephone scams appear to be on the increase.  Please follow the link at the end of this item to my new page on Nuisance (and fraudulent) Telephone Calls

Press release:

A Droitwich woman has lost £5,000 and a Worcester couple £2,400 in two of the latest incidents of telephone fraud in the county.

The 77-year-old woman received a telephone call on Saturday, March 1, from a man claiming to be a police officer from London. He claimed that her bank account had been compromised and told her to withdraw the £5,000 which would then be collected by a courier. The "courier" was a taxi driver, hired by the fraudsters.

The previous day, Friday February 28, the Worcester couple had a call from a man also claiming to be a police officer from London.

He said that their bank cards had been cloned and used in a casino in London, and were now needed to produce in court at the suspects' trial.

They were told to phone their bank to confirm account details but the offender had not cleared the line and took the information. A "courier" then arrived, wearing a yellow jacket, and took the cards away and it was later discovered that the cash had been removed from the accounts.

There were four other similar calls reported in West Mercia over the weekend, in Worcester, Droitwich and Craven Arms. Some of the recipients were suspicious and did not give in to the fraudsters' requests.

Last week Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police urged individuals to be vigilant, and not to be taken in by this scam.

They advised the following:

• Banks and police officers will NEVER ask for account details or PINs over the phone, and would not come round to the house to collect your cards or property.
• If you do get such a call, hang up immediately and dial 999 using another phone.
• If you have already been taken in by this scam, or know someone who has, make sure that the cards are cancelled and police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org
• If you see any suspicious activity in your locality report it to police.

Nuisance Telephone Calls:  http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/personal-security/723/nuisance-telephone-calls/