PHONE scammers have beeen targeting people in Redditch and Bromsgrove claiming to be from the police and even from the ‘Fraud Squad in Scotland Yard’.
In the latest fraud attempt the caller said they were a police officer investigating suspicious activity on the recipient’s account and the intended victim ‘must co-operate with the investigation’.
Police say the victim is then persuaded to withdraw funds and hand them over to the ‘investigators’ either remotely or in person to ‘a courier’.
The caller tells the victim if the bank cashier queries the large withdrawal, they should say it is for work or home repairs or Christmas shopping.
Some people have been asked to hand over bank cards or other valuable items or transfer funds to another account operated by the fraudsters.
West Mercia Police have warned people not to make any payments as no legitimate bank, building society, police officer or business would ever ask for cash, cards or pin numbers.
The scams, the force said, were extremely convincing as the fraudsters will often give fake crime numbers, investigation details and job titles.
They always say transactions must be done in secret and urge victims ‘not to trust bank staff’.
Sgt Carl Jones of West Mercia Police said: “Scams can be very elaborate, very convincing and very cruel.
“If you think someone is trying to scam you, tell someone straight away.
“Don’t be pressured.
“Give yourself time to stop and think.”
Anyone who finds themselves in these situations should provide no details, hand nothing over and contact Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
If the crime is in progress, for example if people have recently provided bank details or handed over cards or cash or agreed for couriers to call at their home they should call police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
