Elderly warned about ‘courier fraud’ which sees thousands lost

Police say to report your concerns as soon as you can SIMPLE CON LED TO FIVE PEOPLE IN COUNTY LOSING OVER £50,000

THREE men have been arrested as part of a national criminal investigation into fraudsters posing as police officers and bank staff to con elderly and vulnerable victims.

People in Lutterworth and Castle Donington are among those who have fallen victim to “courier fraud”, according to police.

It involves criminals cold-calling people on the phone and pretending to be a police officer or bank official.

The ruse continues with the criminals warning the victim that corrupt bank staff at the branch they use have been uncovered, before asking them for their help.

A police spokesman said: “In some cases, the victim is asked to withdraw a sum of money and a courier is sent to their home address to collect it.

“Four of these reports came from the Lutterworth area and one from Castle Donington.”

Three men, aged 20, 27 and 36, have been detained by police and questioned in relation to the incidents.

They have been released pending further inquiries.

The arrests were based on intelligence from City of London Police, which is leading a national inquiry.

Up to 100 people have, so far, been detained across the country.

The police spokesman said: “In January, we received two reports from a man and woman in their 80s who had been called by someone claiming to be a police officer working from a station in London.

“He claimed the victims’ bank cards had been compromised and was carrying out an investigation into corrupt staff at their branch.

“They were told to withdraw a large sum of money from their accounts so they wasn’t counterfeit.

“Both victims withdrew £4,000 each from their accounts, which was then collected by a courier from their homes.”

In February, a report was received from a couple in their 70s who had been contacted by someone posing as a police officer from London.

“On this occasion, they asked the victims to purchase two high-value watches from a jewellers in Leicester as they were investigating the branch could check it for selling possible counterfeit watches,” said the spokesman.

In March, an 80-year-old woman was duped into withdrawing £8,000, which was collected by a courier.

A similar incident occurred in July, when a 73-year-old woman was contacted and asked to withdraw more than £10,000 from her account and, again, a courier was sent to collect.

Paul Wenlock, of the force’s economic crime unit, said: “These types of offences are borderless crimes.

“Those responsible target victims not necessarily in their own area but across the country. Our investigations led us into many force areas and those inquiries resulted in three people being identified.

“All those targeted in these offences were elderly or vulnerable, who were taken in by the suspects claiming they were police officers.

“They sounded genuine and gained the victims’ trust. Between the five victims, more than £50,000 was lost to these fraudsters.

“We will continue to take raise awareness of the issue and help reduce the chances of further people falling victim to these opportunist thieves.

“If you are contacted in similar circumstances, report your concerns immediately.”

Anyone who believes they have been a victim of courier fraud should call 0300 123 2040.