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Leicestershire Police issue phone scam warning from fake officers after pensioner targeted in Rutland




Communities are being warned about a scam after pensioners were targeted by a fraudster claiming to be from the police.

Leicestershire Police has made the warning to communities across Rutland, Leicester and Leicestershire after three reports of attempted courier fraud this week.

Courier fraud occurs when a fraudster contacts victims by telephone claiming to be a police officer or bank official. The caller may confirm the victim’s name and address - basic information which is easily obtained.

Police are warning of a scam after three pensioners were targeted this week
Police are warning of a scam after three pensioners were targeted this week

Callers will claim that the victim’s bank card has been used fraudulently and arrange for a ‘courier’ to collect the card from their home address. The stolen card is then used to make purchases or withdraw money.

On Tuesday (January 28) a man in his 80s, from Belton in Rutland, was contacted by someone purporting to be a police officer called John Spencer from “the fraud squad at Birmingham Police”.

The caller told the man a bank card had been used at a shop in Birmingham, before passing them on to another person claiming to be an officer based in Leicester.

Three pensioners were targeted by scammers claiming to be police officers
Three pensioners were targeted by scammers claiming to be police officers

At this point the man became suspicious of the caller and did not confirm any of his bank details.

On the same day, a woman in her 70s from Broughton Astley, in Leicestershire, was also called by ‘John Spencer’ who said this time that officers had arrested someone in Birmingham because her bank card had been used at a shop in the city.

The woman put the phone down when asked for her bank details.

And yesterday (Wednesday, January 29) another woman in her 70s, from Countesthorpe, was also contacted by someone claiming to be a police officer and that her bank card had been used in London. She refused to provide any details.

No money was taken in any of the three attempts.

The incidents are being investigated by the force’s Economic Crime Unit (ECU) and anyone who has received a similar call is asked to get in touch by calling 101 or via www.leics.police.uk

Nicole McIntyre, from the ECU said: “Those committing courier fraud try to prey on the elderly and vulnerable. They attempt to sound genuine and work quickly to gain the trust of the person they are calling.

“The police would never contact you and ask you to withdraw money. If you get a call like this, please hang up.

“If you need to contact your bank following a call, please try to use a different line as fraudsters can stay on the line even after you have hung up.

“Thankfully on each of these three occasions, the person who was contacted became suspicious of what they were being told and refused to engage further.

“However, I’d encourage our communities to speak to one another to ensure no-one falls victim to such a crime. Please speak to anyone you know who is elderly or vulnerable to ensure they are aware too.”

Further advice about the scam, and steps people can take to protect themselves, can be found on the at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/a-z-of-fraud/courier-fraud



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