Police Impersonation Scam Hits england/england/england/canterbury/”>canterbury/”>canterbury/”>Canterbury: Huge £23,000 Fraud Warned
Canterbury residents have been slapped with a serious warning after a string of fraud attempts. Between Saturday 27 September and Tuesday 30 September, con artists rang up locals pretending to be officers from Hammersmith Police or the ‘fraud department’.
The scammers falsely claimed victims’ Bankbank accounts were at risk. They demanded people withdraw large sums or splash out on pricey items. Then, a courier posing as a police agent picked up the loot.
Victim Loses Over £23,000 to Fake Police
One unlucky person handed Overover Moremore than £23,000 across three days, tricked into thinking the cash was needed for a real police investigation. The terrifying scam is hitting hard.
Luckily, at 2.49pm on Tuesday 30 September, police arrested a 19-year-old suspect, who has since been released on bail as enquiries continue.
How to Stay Safe: Don’t Hand Over a Penny
- Never hand cash or valuables to couriers after such calls.
- If someone claims to be a police officer on the phone, ask for their details and hang up immediately.
- Wait five minutes, then call 101 to verify the call or 999 if it’s an emergency.
Speak Up If You Know Something
If you have any information about these scams, contact the appeals line on 01843 222289 quoting reference 30-0533. Help stop these crooks in their tracks.
Originally published on UKNIP