1 day ago
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You get a call with the bad news that something has gone wrong at your bank. The caller says they are from the police or the bank and that someone will be coming round to pick up your debit card. This courier takesthe card away and uses it, running up thousands of pounds in debt before you realise that something is wrong.
The scam – known as “courier fraud” – is not new, but in recent months there have been warnings about it from police forces around the UK. The Met revealed this week that it had arrested 18 people, and had recovered £250,000 and hundreds of bank cards as part of a two-month crackdown.
The London force said criminals often targeted vulnerable members of the public, particularly older people, with 80% of victims aged over 65. The oldest victim the Met knows of was 101.
In March, a man was jailed for a courier fraud, in which an 80-year-old woman was tricked into handing over her bank cards and pin numbers, and buying gold bars and giving them to scammers for safekeeping. In total more than £600,000 was stolen.
What the scam looks like
There is a phone call from someone saying they are from the police or the bank and that they are investigating a problem with your account or your bank. They say they need you to take steps to protect your money and/or ask you to help them investigate.
Sometimes they ask you to withdraw cash and give it to them for safekeeping, or for them to analyse – in one version of the scam they say someone at the bank is acting fraudulently and they will use the notes to investigate. Often they ask you to hand over your bank card.
Once you have agreed you are either asked to put the cash or card in the post, or told someone would be coming round to your home to collect it. You will be put under some pressure to act quickly.
In one case this year, the fraudster told his victim he was calling from Scotland Yard’s Action Fraud team and that the card was needed because the police wanted to check it for fingerprints to make an arrest. The victim was told if she did not comply she would be arrested.
When the courier turns up they will often pretend to be from the police.
What the messages ask for
Your debit and/or credit card or cash, or sometimes victims are asked to buy gold or other assets to give to the criminals to “look after”.
What to do
Be very wary of unexpected phone calls from your bank or the police, particularly if the person on the other end of the line asks for personal or financial information.
If you are worried, end the call and contact your bank or the police on a different phone – use the number on your bank card or call 101 in the UK for police. If you only have one phone, wait at least a minute before calling as scammers have been known to keep the line open and take the call. If there is no dial tone before an answer, hang up.
Never hand over your money, bank cards or make purchases after an unexpected call, and never share your pin.
If you have handed over your card, contact your bank immediately to cancel it.
