Elderly swindled out of £16.3m in courier scam
SWINDLERS tricked trusting pensioners out of £16.3million in the last year by getting them to pass large sums of cash and bank cards to a courier. People over 70 are being disproportionately targeted to hand over their life savings, reveals data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. Older women are more than twice as likely to fall foul of the scammers, who have even fleeced people over 100
The fraud typically begins with a phone call or email, where con artists pose as bank officials, police or other authority figures warning them that their account has been compromised and urgent action is needed to save their life savings.
Victims are often convinced to withdraw large sums and told to place the cash in an envelope or bag and hand it to a courier who will visit their home.
Courier fraudsters have even coerced victims into using taxis to buy high-value items from jewellers. Some have been sent to foreign exchange bureaus and told to transfer money for “safe-keeping”.
The Metropolitan, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley and Hampshire police areas have had the most incidents, with 43 per cent of all reports from victims. Det Ch Insp Lee Parish, of the City of London police fraud team, said: “We’ve seen a growing trend of courier fraud taking place in and around retirement villages, care homes and assisted living accommodation.
“We’re asking family members and staff supporting older people to be vigilant, especially for incoming phone calls to residents, couriers arriving by motorbike or taxi and visitors who unexpectedly arrive.
“Banks or police officers will never send a courier to pick up cash, bank cards or pin codes from individuals.”
If targeted, he urged people to contact Action Fraud and call 999.