Alert After ‘Courier Fraud’ Attempts

Police have issued an alert after attempts were made to dupe pensioners out of money through a scam known as ‘courier fraud’.

They were phoned up by someone claiming to be an officer from the Leicestershire force investigating fraud on their accounts and requested bank details.

Luckily the potential victims – including a woman aged in her 70s from Broughton Astley – did not disclose anything and ended the call.

She was contacted by a person claiming to be a police officer called John Spencer, who said officers had arrested someone in Birmingham because her bank card had been used at a shop in the city.

The incidents are being investigated by Leicestershire Police’s Economic Crime Unit (ECU) and anyone who has received a similar call is asked to get in touch.

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.”

Anyone who thinks they have been a victim of courier fraud is asked to report it to police on 101 or via www.leics.police.uk

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