COURIER FRAUD GANGS TARGET ELDERLY

WARNING AS WOMAN IN 80S A VICTIM

POLICE are urging people to be aware of courier fraud phone scams after a dozen people – one in her 80s – were duped out of thousands of pounds.

Since October, 58 people have reported incidents to police, 12 losing a total of £100,000.

On Monday, a woman in her 80s was contacted by a bogus police officer in London, told her bank card had been cloned and she should visit a jewellers in Leicester and buy a watch using her card.

After buying the watch she returned home and it was later collected by the gang.

TWO people – one in her 80s – have been duped out of thousands of pounds by fraudsters pretending to be police.

Officers are now warning people with elderly relatives and neighbours to be alert for courier fraud.

Since October, 58 people have reported incidents to police.

Twelve of the incidents saw victims lose money – totalling £100,000. In the other 46, the fraudsters were unsuccessful.

The most recent took place on Monday, when a woman in her 80s was contacted by a man claiming he was a police officer in London.

The victim was told her bank card had been cloned and she should visit a jeweller’s in Leicester and buy an expensive watch using her card.

After buying the watch, she returned home and it was later collected.

On January 31, a man was contacted by someone claiming to be a police officer.

He was told to withdraw cash from his account. This was later collected from his home.

Later the same day, he was called again and asked to go to a jeweller’s to buy a watch.

He was told officers were carrying out surveillance on the shop for counterfeit offences and his assistance would help.

He became suspicious and ended the call.

Paul Wenlock, who has been working for force’s economic crime unit since 2010, said: “I have never seen anything like this.

“There has been a 25 per cent increase in this crime nationally.

“Anybody phoning from a bank or saying they are a police officer will never ask certain questions.

“Asking them to get involved in police operations, or asking for their Pin number over the phone – that would never happen.”

He said on average victims lost £5,500.

He said: “In the majority of cases, elderly and vulnerable people are being targeted.

“They sound plausible and victims do get taken in.

“A number of warnings have been issued about these crimes in the past few months but we know not everyone accesses social media or the internet, so we are asking the public to help us by informing their neighbours or relatives about these offences.”

He also said it was important anyone who received a suspicious phone call should take a break and call 999 from another phone, as sometimes the call can remain connected.

He said: “We believe these criminal organisations are based in London and that there are victim lists going around the dark web with phone numbers.

“These criminals phone a lot of numbers and eventually they find someone who is vulnerable.

“Anybody with any information should call 101 or Crimestoppers to report a fraud anonymously.

“The sooner we find out who these people are and bring them to justice, the better.”

For more advice, see: