POLICE are urging people to be vigilant after an elderly Barnsley woman lost over £11,000 in a reported scam.
A police spokesperson said: “We are urging people to remain vigilant and make themselves aware of the signs of courier fraud after officers investigating reports of fraudulent activity in Barnsley arrested a man.
“Last Tuesday (March 25), we received reports that a woman received a phone call from a man claiming to be a police officer. The woman, who is in her 80s, was told that her bank card had been used for fraudulent activity.
“She was asked to withdraw money from her local bank so the serial numbers on the notes could be checked. The woman was then asked to place the money, as well as a large quantity of money she had in her house, in her wheelie bin for a courier to pick it up. She ended up losing approximately £11,800.
“Since we received the report officers have been working thoroughly, following several lines of enquiry. On Wednesday (March 26), a 27-year-old man from Derby was arrested on suspicion of fraud and forgery. He has been bailed pending further enquiries.”
Protecting yourself from Courier Fraud
The police or your bank will never call you to ask you to verify your financial details by phone. Hang up if you get a call like this.
If you do get a call and need to call your bank back to check, wait five minutes. Find a number for the bank you know and trust, from the back of your card or a statement. Fraudsters have been known to stay on the line after you hang up so when you ring your bank back you are connected back to the scammers.
Don’t let a stranger take your bank card from you. You should only ever have to hand it over at your bank.
If you are a victim of fraud report it to Action Fraud, either online via: https://orlo.uk/kJcOx 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.
