Residents in Boston targeted by fraudsters pretending to be from police - one hands over 'significant' sum, police say
Residents in Boston have been receiving calls from fraudsters pretending to be members of the police, Lincolnshire Police has warned.
Across Wednesday and Thursday (December 17 and 18), three such calls were reported to the force.
The caller indentified themselves as DS Harvey from Coventry Police, made up a story about an investigation, and asked the resident to withdraw cash, police said.
Sadly, one resident handed over a ‘significant’ sum of money to a courier, it added.
A spokesman said: “We are urging members of the public to share this information with their friends, family members and neighbours to help prevent them from becoming a victim of courier fraud.”
Courier fraud, the spokesman explained, happens when criminals cold-call victims pretending to be a police officer or a bank official, convincing them to hand over their cash, bank cards or any other high-value items to a courier that has been sent to their home.
“Fraudsters will often suggest some money has been removed from the victim’s account and that the staff from their local bank are being investigated,” they continued. “They may also suggest that an individual known to the victim has been arrested but the ‘police officers’ need money for evidence.
“Another tactic being used by criminals is to instruct the unsuspecting victim to purchase high-value items such as jewellery or gold. If you receive a call like this, please hang up immediately.”
Offering advice, police said that banks or members of the police will never ask someone for their PIN, bank card, or any other financial details.
They will also never ask someone to withdraw money or to buy items on their behalf to be picked up by a courier, the force said.
There are call-blocking services available that can help screen out unwanted calls, it added.
“If you receive an unexpected call, hang up and use another phone to call back and confirm the identity on a number you can verify yourself, not one given by the caller,” the spokesman said. “Ask yourself ‘how do I know they are who they say they are?’.”