Courier fraud on the increase

Cheshire Police are warning people in Cheshire to be vigilant against courier fraud.

Police are investigating two incidents where elderly residents have been targeted by fraudsters posing as police officers. The scammers contacted the victims by phone, claiming to be from the police or fraud squad, and instructed them to withdraw large sums of money and hand it over to a courier.

In one incident, an 81-year-old woman was contacted by a man claiming to be DC Martin Anderson. The scammer told the victim that her bank card had been used fraudulently and instructed her to attend the police station to report the matter. However, the victim became suspicious and decided to call the police directly. The genuine police confirmed that no such incident had been reported and advised the victim to hang up on the scammer.

In another incident, a 79-year-old woman received a call from a scammer who told the victim that there had been fraudulent activity on her bank account and that she needed to withdraw £4,800 in cash to safeguard her funds. The scammer ordered a taxi to collect the victim and take her to the NatWest bank, where she was instructed to withdraw the money. Fortunately, the victim became suspicious and decided not to go to the bank.

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.

Stay vigilant and protect yourself from fraudsters.