POLICE are urging people across South Yorkshire to make themselves aware of the signs of courier fraud after a man lost over £7,000 to fraudsters pretending to be police officers.
On Christmas Eve, the Doncaster man, who is in his 80s, received a phone call from an unknown number claiming to be a police officer at a station based in Doncaster.
The man was asked to help in an ‘undercover operation’ focused on employees at a local bank. He was asked to withdraw money and then hand it over to a courier who would attend his home address. He ended up being scammed out of £7,450.
Police have received five other reports of similar fraudulent calls from people pretending to be police officers made to South Yorkshire residents in the last week and its fraud team is now warning people to be aware of this particular type of scam.
Courier fraud involves victims receiving a phone call from a criminal pretending to be from the police or another official organisation, such as a bank.
The fraudster claims there is an issue with the victim's bank account or requests the victim's help in an ongoing bank or police investigation. Victims are then asked to withdraw a large sum of money which will be collected by a courier for 'evidence'.
You can find advice and tips to help spot the signs of courier fraud here https://orlo.uk/FNLN6
If you are a victim of fraud report it to Action Fraud, either online via: https://orlo.uk/7xvAB or by calling them on 0300 123 2040. If you’ve given your bank details over the phone or handed your card to a courier, call your bank immediately and ask them to cancel your cards and put a block onto your account.
