POLICE are continuing to warn people in Warrington to be vigilant against courier fraud after two elderly residents were targeted by fraudsters posing as officers from the MET.
There have been two recent reports of incidents where elderly residents have been targeted by fraudsters posing as police officers from the MET. The scammers contacted the victims by phone, claiming to be from the police or fraud squad. In both cases they said the victim had been defrauded by their granddaughter.
To check the call was genuine, the scammers told them to put the phone down and call 999, but the scammers hadn’t disconnected the call. Thankfully in both cases the elderly victims realised it was a scam and the call was ended before they instructed to withdraw any money or financial details.
DI David Schofield said: “I would urge anyone who has elderly relatives or neighbours to warn them not to be taken in by this scam. There are a number of ways to prevent fraud, and I would advise you make them familiar with these tips to keep them safe from fraudsters.”
Here are some safety tips to help prevent courier fraud:
• Never provide personal or financial information to someone you don’t know, especially over the phone.
• If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately.
• Contact your bank directly using a known and trusted phone number to verify any requests for money or sensitive information.
• Never withdraw large sums of money based on instructions from someone claiming to be from the police or a bank.
• If you think you have been a victim of courier fraud, contact the police immediately on 101 or Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
• Remember, genuine organisations will never cold call you asking for this information. If you’re ever in doubt, hang up and contact the organization directly using a known and trusted phone number.
