POLICE WARN OF ‘DESPICABLE’ SCAM ON ELDERLY

CRUEL phone scammers posing as police officers are targeting elderly people across Nuneaton and Bedworth in what has been branded a ‘despicable’ con.

Over the weekend alone there were three different reported cases, the most heart-breaking in which an elderly woman, aged in her 80s, was tricked into handing over £700.

It is a phone scam that has been dubbed by top cops as ‘despicable’ and sees criminals pretending to be police officers.

They call elderly people and try to convince victims that they have been targeted by fraudsters and ask them to leave their bank card and PIN number under their door mat, telling them someone will come and collect them.

The elderly woman, who has not been identified, fell victim to the cruel fraudsters and it has prompted police officers to appeal to people to be on their guard.

Chief Inspector Daf Goddard said: “This is a particularly despicable crime because it often targets elderly and vulnerable people, taking advantage of their trust of figures in authority.

“They often sound very convincing and can cause a great deal of distress to people who believe they have been a victim of a fraud when in fact they haven’t.

“Police and banks never ask members of the public for their bank card or PIN number.

“If you or someone you know is contacted by someone claiming to be from the police and asking for your bank card and PIN number, hang up immediately and call the police using a different phone.”

In the other two cases reported across the borough at the weekend, the victims became suspicious and called the police.

Officers are appealing to people to get more information on how to avoid being a victim of phone scams go to https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/ article/16140/Phone-scams