Nottinghamshire police warn of 'wicked and cynical scam'
The force say it's been taking place in Hucknall and East Leake
Nottinghamshire police are warning of a "wicked and cynical scam" taking place in Hucknall and East Leake.
Four similar incidents of people being encouraged to hand over cash, debit cards and pin numbers are being investigated by fraud officers.
It's said the scammers claimed there was either a problem with an account or that it was part of an undercover investigation.
They're urging older people in particular to be wary of telephone scammers pretending to be police officers.
The force say had any of those attempts been successful, somebody posing as a courier or police officer would then have appeared to take money or items away.
One man recently came close to losing nearly £5,000, but was prevented from withdrawing it by bank staff who became suspicious.
Dale Richardson, a cyber and fraud prevent officer at Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“This is a wicked and cynical scam that seeks to exploit the well-placed trust people usually place in police officers.
“I cannot stress enough, however, that no police officer would ever make contact in this way and request money or anything else of a personal nature from you.
“If you receive such a call you should not give out any personal information and hang up immediately.
“If that is too confrontational for you, you can always ask for that person’s name and collar number than then seek to return their call by dialling 101.
“Any genuine police officer would not be offended by that. Indeed, they are likely to praise you for your diligence.
“We are urging people – particularly those with older relatives – to share this among friends and family who may not see this on the internet.”
Anyone receiving a call like this should report it to the police immediately and inform Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040.
Digital versions of Nottinghamshire Police’s fraud toolkits – which includes useful advice and information on how to protect yourself from scams – can be viewed here: Fraud Toolkit
Things to watch out for
After gaining a victim’s trust, criminals might claim:
- That a business, such as a jeweller or currency exchange, is operating fraudulently and they require assistance to help secure evidence.
- Some money has been removed from your bank account and that corrupt staff at your local bank branch are responsible. You’re advised that someone at the branch has already been arrested but the “police” need you to withdraw your money for evidence.
- You need to purchase expensive items that you’ll be asked to hand to a courier for examination.
- There is an investigation that requires you to withdraw money and hand it over to a police officer or courier, which will be returned to you once the investigation is complete.
- Their systems have spotted a fraudulent payment on your card or it is due to expire and needs to be replaced.
Police say that in these scenarios, the criminals will often tell you not to speak to anyone else about the investigation and promise you will get your money back. They may also ask you to lie to your bank or bypass security measures – it is essential that you follow any warnings from your bank and never lie to your bank.