Police authorities are issuing a stark warning after members of the public lost more than £19.6 million to courier fraud in the past three months. The victims, often elderly pensioners, have fallen prey to criminals posing as police officers or bank representatives, who claim that the victim’s account has been compromised by fraudsters.
These fraudsters then manipulate the victims into transferring money or purchasing gold bullion and jewellery under the guise of aiding a fake investigation. In many instances, the criminals themselves pose as couriers to collect the valuable items from the victims’ addresses. This type of crime is commonly referred to as courier fraud. In some cases, the criminals have even physically visited victims’ homes, impersonating police officers to collect money, jewellery, and bank cards.
City of London Police, the lead force for fraud in the UK, has received reports of significant losses, including one victim in Essex who lost £5.3 million and another in Cambridgeshire who lost over £1.9 million.
Detective Sergeant Victoria O’Keefe from the City of London Police stated, “The victims of this crime are losing significant amounts of money, and in some cases, it amounts to their life savings. If you are a jeweller or gold dealer, we urge you to look out for the signs of courier fraud.”
She further added, “If any members of the public hear of any friends and family being contacted out of the blue by the police or their bank to make purchases on their behalf, call the police and report it immediately.
Over the past three months, cases involving courier fraud have been reported across various regions, including Wiltshire, Thames Valley, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire, with high-value gold bullion purchases being a common feature. Victims of these scams have been aged between 75 and 91 years.
The warning comes after a 91-year-old woman in the Marlborough area attempted to withdraw £50,000 from her bank following a phone call claiming to be from the London Police. Fortunately, her bank blocked the transaction, and her son encouraged her to report the incident.
Cheryl Hurren, Complex Fraud Team manager at Wiltshire Police, emphasized the seriousness of courier frauds and highlighted the dedicated Fraud Protect Officer, Rachel Davies, who offers personal advice and guidance to residents in Wiltshire. Hurren urged individuals and community groups to reach out to Rachel Davies for assistance.
One recommended measure to combat nuisance phone calls and potential scams is to install a call blocker unit, which filters unwanted calls and permits only trusted callers. More information on call blockers can be found at www.truecall.co.uk. In the past, City of London Police collaborated with Truecall to install call blockers in residents’ homes as part of a 2021 initiative.
Jewellers or gold dealers who suspect a customer may be a fraud victim in progress are advised to call the police immediately at 999. Fraud reports can also be made online to Action Fraud or by calling 0300 123 2040 in England and Wales, or to Police Scotland on 101 in Scotland.
