Cumbria Police warn of phone fraud targeting vulnerable individuals
Authorities urge caution following reports in Workington and Penrith.
Cumbria Police are urging residents to remain vigilant and check in on vulnerable and older family members after several reports of phone scams in recent days.
Fraudsters posing as representatives from Amazon have targeted individuals in areas such as Workington, Penrith, and the southern county, claiming a pending payment for an unrequested item.
These scammers aim to obtain personal information and identity documents, such as passports or driving licences, from unsuspecting victims.
Some people were asked to purchase gift cards and send codes from the cards after scratching off the panel.
Others faced requests to download remote access apps, providing fraudsters access to victims' devices.
Police are providing ongoing advice to help the public avoid falling victim to such scams.
Residents are advised to remind vulnerable individuals to be cautious of unsolicited calls and not act hastily in response.
Vital reminders include that legitimate entities like Amazon, banks, and the police will never request banking details over the phone, download requests, nor purchase of gift cards or other valuables.
Should doubts arise about a call's legitimacy, the advised action is to hang up immediately.
It's important to use a different phone or wait five minutes before contacting the bank or police, ensuring no open line remains.
For non-urgent police matters, callers can dial 101, while dialling 159 connects them directly to their bank by name.