Warning as bogus police target elderly
POLICE are warning Charnwood folk to be careful following a spate of telephone scams targeting older people - with the offenders posing as police officers. Sergeant Rod Smart, of Charnwood NPA, said: “We have had reports of criminals trying to defraud older people over the telephone by phoning them up and claiming to be police officers. “If you receive an unsolicited telephone call from anyone claiming to be from the police, then take the person’s name, identification number, contact number and crime incident or reference number. “Use a different telephone to contact the police on 101 and give them the details that you have been given. The officer on the telephone will be able to confirm whether this is a legitimate call and will be able to transfer you through to the officer. “It’s important that you use a different telephone because criminals are able to make you believe that you have terminated a call and rung a different number, when you are in fact still connected to them. “The same principle will work with banks and other companies or agencies. If in doubt, get their telephone number from Yellow Pages or online and telephone them. Don’t telephone the number that a caller gives you - it may just put you through to other criminals. “Please be aware, the police and your bank will never, ever ask you to transfer or withdraw money from your account and will not ask you for your account number and password. “If you have elderly neighbours then please warn them about scams like this.” Two people in Leicestershire have been duped out of thousands of pounds after someone claiming to be a police officer conducting a fraud investigation contacted them. On Monday, February 3, a woman in her 80s was contacted by someone claiming he was a police officer from a station in London. The victim was told that her bank card had been cloned and that she should visit a jewellers and purchase a high value watch using her card. The victim purchased the watch and returned home where the watch was later collected. She reported the incident to the police as soon as she realised she had been a victim of fraud. And on Friday, January 31, a man was the victim of courier fraud after he was contacted by someone claiming to be a police officer. The victim was told to withdraw cash from his account which was later collected from his home. Later the same day the same victim was contacted again and on this occasion he was asked to go to a local jewellers to purchase a watch. The suspect told the victim that they were carrying out surveillance of the shop for counterfeit offences and his assistance would help. The victim became suspicious and ended the call.