Bogus officers scam £135k off elderly victims

WARNING ABOUT COURIER FRAUD

FRAUDSTERS posing as police officers have stolen more than £135,000 from elderly people in a series of scams in the past few weeks.

Police issued a warning after victims were contacted by the bogus officers and tricked into handing over large sums or gold to a courier.

Since December 10, the force has received 17 reports of courier fraud. Seven of those victims suffered losses totalling more than £135,000.

One of the victims was a woman in her 80s from Oadby who was initially contacted in December by someone who claimed to be a police officer from London.

The fraudster claimed to be investigating counterfeit currency and, over a period of time, gained the woman’s trust.

He told the victim that to ensure her money was not counterfeit, she should withdraw a large sum of money and buy gold.

A courier was then sent to her home to collect the gold, which had cost her more than £30,000.

In another incident, an elderly man from Knighton was targeted by bogus police officers and was told they were investigating fraudulent activity on his wife’s bank card.

The victim, who is in his 80s, was told to withdraw money and buy gold bars. He did so and a courier came to collect the gold, which was worth £40,000.

Paul Wenlock, from the force’s economic crime unit, said: “These types of offences are borderless crimes and those responsible target victims not necessarily in their own area but across the country.

“We work closely with forces across the country to ensure any intelligence identified during investigations is shared.

“A number of warnings have been issued about these crimes, but we know not everyone accesses social media or the internet.

“So we are asking the public to help us by informing neighbours or relatives.

“Police officers would never contact them in this way. If they are called they should disconnect the call straight away and report the incident to the police using another telephone, as on some occasions calls can remain connected.

“On some occasions, suspects use taxi or courier companies, who unknowingly accept the job. We ask people if contacted to collect packages to be mindful of who they are collecting from and if they have any suspicions report them to police.”