Thousands lost by scam victims
POLICE ISSUE WARNING OVER ‘SPOOFED’ NUMBERS
POLICE have issued a warning over a new scam which has led to more than £23,000 being stolen from victims in just one week.
There were 21 reports of the scam in Nottinghamshire, with some victims losing thousands of pounds by handing over money to individuals claiming to be from HMRC.
One 38-year-old man, who didn’t wish to be identified, lost £7,750 as English was his second language and he fell victim to the scam.
Meanwhile a 59-year-old woman lost close to £1,000 and nearly fell for the same scam twice, before her bank stopped a second transaction of £1,100 to fraudsters.
A vulnerable 69-year-old woman also lost £1,100 after she visited her bank and transferred the money. She only realised it was a scam when the fraudsters called the next day wanting a further £1,000.
Police have worked closely with Action Fraud to support the victims who were targeted from March 15 to 21 this year.
The scammers, pretending to work for HMRC, would normally call by using a withheld number or “spoofed” telephone numbers that match a genuine HMRC number.
The caller would typically tell the victim that they were investigating fraudulent activity involving unpaid taxes or that their National Insurance number has been linked to fraud.
The scammers would then ask for a payment to be made to a suspect account.
Nottinghamshire Police Fraud Protection Officer Laura Murdock has urged people in Nottinghamshire to report any suspicious incidents to the police but also to talk to their friends and family to make them aware.
She said: “We want to warn members of public about this type of fraud. We have worked really hard in Nottinghamshire by educating and working with the public through strong communication messages about possible scams.
“Please be vigilant when you answer a call from a withheld number, especially if they ask you to disclose personal or financial information.
If you receive a call you’re not sure about, always insist on verifying the caller’s identity. If you’re calling them back, use a number known to be connected to the organisation in question, not the one provided by the caller.
“Make this call from a separate telephone line to the one that the call was received if you can. If you don’t have one, wait at least 10 minutes before calling on the same line.
“Legitimate organisations will understand you wanting to make these steps and will not take issue with it.
“Please note, HMRC, the police or your bank will never contact you and demand a payment is made. They will also never ask you for your National Insurance details or your bank details including your PIN.
“Please continue to spread the word ensuring elderly or vulnerable loved ones and neighbours are aware of these types of scams.”
If you believe that you are a victim of a scam please report the incident to Action Fraud, the UK’S national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre, on 0300 123 2040 or call the police on 101.