Scam warning as fraudster poses as police

MACCLESFIELD residents are being warned of a phone scam.

It follows a call made to a woman in Prestbury on Tuesday, July 12 at 10am.

The caller said he was from the Metropolitan Police and claimed the victim’s credit cards and bank account had been compromised.

The caller then advised the victim that if she wanted to verify the call then she should hang up and then dial 999, which the victim did.

However, the offender did not put the phone down at their end, which meant when the victim picked up the phone it was still connected offender.

The caller was then asked to divulge a number of details about her bank accounts; however after becoming suspicious the victim decided to end the call.

Detective Sergeant Donna Pearson said: “Thankfully the victim in this case did not fall for the scam and the offenders were not able to take any money. However the case could have been very different. I would like to remind all residents that the police will never call you and ask for your bank details, nor would we asking you to withdraw any money.

“Although this incident occurred in Prestbury, we have had reports of similar incidents from across the to the county in the past few weeks. That’s why I’m advising residents across the county to be aware of this latest scam.”

Residents are urged to always be wary of cold callers who suggest you hang up the phone and call them back.

Don’t be afraid to put the phone down on someone if you are unsure about handing over details. Banks never call and ask for your four-digit card Pin or ask you to withdraw money to hand over to them or transfer money to another account.

Never assume a caller is genuine just because they hold some information about you. Criminals may already have some basic information, such as a name, address and account details to try to make the call appear legitimate.

If in doubt, ask for the officer’s name, collar number and station and then hang up. Using a different phone, as the caller may still be linked to yours. Call 101 to check the identity of the officer.

Try phoning a relative or friend to ensure the potential offender is not still on the line. It takes two people to terminate a call so try and use a different phone line if you are asked to ring back.

If you think you’ve already been a victim of this scam, contact your bank or card company immediately.

Anyone who is a victim of this scam should contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 and the police on 101.