More fraud

Thames Valley Police are reissuing their warning to residents of the Thames Valley to be on their guard for fraudulent phone calls purporting to be from banks/police officers and requesting bank and card details.

On Tuesday 21 January, an elderly lady from Ermin Street, Shefford Woodlands, and an elderly lady from Lancaster Close, Hungerford, both received calls. Fortunately they realised that it was a scam before any money could be taken from their accounts.

Police are reiterating their advice about this type of fraud and asking everyone who has elderly or vulnerable family members, friends, or neighbours, to let them know about the scam.

The most important three things to remember are:

- Your bank and/or the police will never ask for your PIN
- Your bank will never attend your home to deliver a replacement card or to collect cash
- Your bank and/or the police will never collect your bank card

This type of fraud is known as courier fraud or vishing and often targets the elderly and vulnerable. The victim receives a phone call from fraudsters who say they are from their bank or the police. They tell the victim that they are calling because there has been suspicious activity on their account and advise them to call the bank from the number on the back of their card, which helps the victim believe the call is genuine.

The victim disconnects the phone and dials their bank or police, however the fraudster has kept the telephone line open so even though a number is dialed, it is not connected and the victim is still on the phone to the fraudster, who then gains their trust and asks them to either say or key in their pin, before telling them their card will be collected and a replacement delivered.

Once the fraudster has all the information they need, a courier is sent to collect the card from the victim, and a replacement is delivered at the same time, which is not a genuine bank card.

The offender has obtained the person’s name, address, full bank details, the card itself and the PIN. The bank cards are then used fraudulently without the victim’s knowledge.

Police advice is that if you receive such a call, end it immediately. Then use another phone-line, neighbours phone or mobile phone to make a report. If this is not possible please wait a period of time before you use your phone (10 minutes should be sufficient).

If you receive this type of call, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or via their website. In an emergency, dial 999.