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Elderly targeted in bank card scam
Scammers have been targeting the elderly in a bank card con, by pretending to be police officers.
Victims were called by a scammer who posed as a police officer, telling their elderly target they were investigating a fraud on their bank account.
The 'police officer' then turned up at the victim's home, asking for their card and sometimes their PIN, saying they needed to run the card through a machine at Scotland Yard to identify the fraudster.
In November 2008, an 88-year-old woman received several phone calls from a man claiming to be a police officer, and after gaining her trust, collected her bank card.
Over a ten day period, £12,336 was stolen from the woman's bank account.
More recently, three different victims lost a total of £70,000 in the scam.
The Metropolitan Police Service has arrested 12 people in connection with the scam so far, and is wants to speak to another seven suspects.
Acting DCI Chris Krelle of Havering Borough, who is leading the investigation, said: "These cowardly offences are being committed against the most frail and vulnerable people in our communities.
"Please note, your bank would be the first organisation to contact you if they suspect you are a victim of credit card fraud.
"You should always request and verify the identification of any person who calls at your door that you do not know. Any police officer who calls at an address would always be in possession of a warrant card."
Officers are currently investigating a total of 72 linked offences, across Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Waltham Forest, Newham and Edmonton.
A total of three offences have also occurred in Barnet, Sutton and Essex.
Katy Worobec of Financial Fraud Action UK, the banking industry's main fraud body, said: "In the past year we have seen a rise in scams of this type and clearly anyone could be targeted. Our advice, as always, is to never hand out your personal details, PINS or security information to anyone.
"Rest assured, that if you are the innocent victim of this, or any other type of card fraud, you won't suffer any financial loss."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 01708 779283 or, if you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Victims were called by a scammer who posed as a police officer, telling their elderly target they were investigating a fraud on their bank account.
The 'police officer' then turned up at the victim's home, asking for their card and sometimes their PIN, saying they needed to run the card through a machine at Scotland Yard to identify the fraudster.
In November 2008, an 88-year-old woman received several phone calls from a man claiming to be a police officer, and after gaining her trust, collected her bank card.
Over a ten day period, £12,336 was stolen from the woman's bank account.
More recently, three different victims lost a total of £70,000 in the scam.
The Metropolitan Police Service has arrested 12 people in connection with the scam so far, and is wants to speak to another seven suspects.
Acting DCI Chris Krelle of Havering Borough, who is leading the investigation, said: "These cowardly offences are being committed against the most frail and vulnerable people in our communities.
"Please note, your bank would be the first organisation to contact you if they suspect you are a victim of credit card fraud.
"You should always request and verify the identification of any person who calls at your door that you do not know. Any police officer who calls at an address would always be in possession of a warrant card."
Officers are currently investigating a total of 72 linked offences, across Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Waltham Forest, Newham and Edmonton.
A total of three offences have also occurred in Barnet, Sutton and Essex.
Katy Worobec of Financial Fraud Action UK, the banking industry's main fraud body, said: "In the past year we have seen a rise in scams of this type and clearly anyone could be targeted. Our advice, as always, is to never hand out your personal details, PINS or security information to anyone.
"Rest assured, that if you are the innocent victim of this, or any other type of card fraud, you won't suffer any financial loss."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 01708 779283 or, if you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
More...
