Warning to residents over fraud

ADVICE has been issued to West Lancashire residents to help them avoid falling foul of courier fraud following reports in the North West.

Courier fraud is when an offender cold calls a victim posing as an official such as a police officer or a member of a bank’s fraud team.

They will instruct the victim to go to their bank and withdraw money, claiming that they are investigating staff and need help in some kind of undercover operation.

The fraudsters may claim that bank staff are handing out counterfeit bank notes and they need the victim to withdraw money so that it can be examined.

The offender will then send a courier to collect the money from the victim.

Police will never ask residents to become part of an undercover investigation or to withdraw cash and hand it to them for safe-keeping.

Residents are urged to be wary of any calls, texts or emails purporting to be from the police asking for personal or financial details, or to transfer money.

Those who are approached, or feel something is suspicious, are urged to hang up the phone and not reply, before reporting it to police on 101, Action Fraud and your bank on their advertised number.

For more information visit takefivestopfraud.org.uk