CONMEN CHEAT WOMAN, 95, OUT OF £20K
‘GHASTLY’ FRAUDSTERS PRETENDED TO BE POLICEMEN TO DUPE OAP
A 95-YEAR-OLD woman was cruelly conned three times by fraudsters pretending to be police officers.
Margaret Turner has been targeted three times over the past 10 months by fraudsters who took almost £20,000 from her.
During the first incident, a conman claiming to be from the HSBC fraud investigation team called Miss Turner saying her account had been compromised.
He advised her to withdraw her money and deposit it into the account numbers he provided.
He gave her a telephone number for the Metropolitan Police Service for her to be able to verify the call. He kept the phone line open so when Miss Turner called the police number she was still talking to the fraudster.
Miss Turner, from Penarth, transferred £5,500 which in this case she was able to get back.
The second incident was in May of this year when Miss Turner was called by a fraudster claiming to be a sergeant with the serious fraud squad.
He told her there was a problem at her bank with fraudulent notes and advised that she withdraw her money.
A courier, believed to be from London, turned up at Miss Turner’s door to collect £7,000 in cash.
In the most recent incident which took place on June 15, the retired teacher was called by a fake sergeant who said fraudsters had withdrawn money from her account.
The fraudster then told her that to protect the rest of her money she needed to withdraw it all and send it to him to keep safe.
The fraudster advised Miss Turner to ring 161 to ensure the “authenticity” of the call. The line was kept open and a man, claiming to be a police officer, advised that the call was genuine and that she needed to withdraw her money.
The victim followed the instructions and £7,000 was handed over.
Miss Turner also lost thousands of pounds worth of jewellery after the con artists convinced her it was not safe for her jewellery to be in her home as they said fraudsters knew where she lived.
Sentimental items were taken including her gold square emerald ring encrusted with diamonds which was her mother’s ring passed down from Miss Turner’s grandmother.
Miss Turner said: “They phoned me very early in the morning and I’m not very good in the mornings. I was anxious to get rid of him so I said alright and did this, that and the other to get rid of him. I did all that he wanted me to do.
“I realised what was happening when I got a printout from the bank and I was in the red. I can’t think how I was so stupid.
“My message to other people who receive a call of this nature is to tell the police at once. Don’t give the fraudsters anything.”
Miss Turner added: “It’s a ghastly thing to do to anybody but unfortunately there seems to be a lot of them around.”
Police are investigating a number of incidents where fraudsters have been pretending to be police officers and calling up mainly elderly and vulnerable people claiming there has been fraudulent activity on their accounts.
These fake officers give fake badge numbers and use the bogus phone number 161 to convince the victims that they are real officers.
Detective Inspector Terry Hopkins, from South Wales Police, said: “I cannot stress enough how sophisticated and well-rehearsed these scammers are and any one of us could fall victim to their con if we are not vigilant.
“This is a callous and cruel crime preying on our most vulnerable in society. Miss Turner, a 95-year-old former teacher, has been targeted three times in the past 10 months.
“These incidents have had a profound effect upon Miss Turner and has left her questioning who she can trust.
“Operation Signature is in place to investigate these fraudsters. Officers have been working with local banks and the local authority to raise awareness and report any suspicious activity.
“The message is clear – the police will never contact you in this manner – we will never ask for money.
“All calls of this nature are a scam, and the person receiving the call should hang up as soon as possible.
“I would urge all residents to share this message and raise awareness of this scam.
“Anyone who receives any suspicious calls should let us know by calling 101.”