Courier Fraud Scam Alert
We have unfortunately continued to receive reports of scammers contacting individuals via the telephone and pretending to either be Police Officers / Scotland Yard, or bank staff.
No genuine organisation will EVER send someone to your door to collect cash, bank cards or other goods.
If someone calls you who claims to be a Police Officer, ask for their collar number, HANG UP, wait a few minutes, dial 101 and ask for that officer. DO NOT re-dial the number that called you. Scammers use a spoofed dialling tone to keep the line open. So when you think you’ve hung up, you’re still on the line to scammers. If possible, call 101 using a different phone.
The same if someone calls claiming to be your bank. Do not share any personal information. HANG UP, wait a few minutes, and call the number on the back of your bank card or from your bank statement. Again, use a different phone if possible. Banks keep a record, so they will be able to verify if they have genuinely called you.
No genuine organisation will be offended if you do this.
Please make your friends, neighbours and relatives aware of this scam. Fraudsters purposely target vulnerable people via the telephone and tell them to not tell anybody about the situation. Fraudsters will give their victims a story to tell bank staff if they are asked the reason for the cash withdrawal, such as they’re buying a new car or giving it to a relative.
The Police will NEVER contact you and ask for your assistance with an investigation or an undercover operation. Hang up on these calls and report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/. If you believe you have lost money to this scam, call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 to report to us as soon as possible.
Be aware of recovery fraud. Once scammers have targeted you for a scam, they keep contact lists and share this around to other fraudsters, meaning you will be persistently targeted. If this is happening to you, it’s worth installing a call blocking unit.
Protect yourselves from scam telephone calls by:
- Calling your provider to make your number ex-directory and asking if they have any scam call shield services.
- Registering your number with the Telephone Preference Service.
- Removing your details from the OPEN Electoral Register and 192.com
- Installing a call blocker / phone with an inbuilt call blocking feature.
- Changing your number if necessary.
- Ensuring your number isnβt publicly available on any of your social media pages.
Please make sure you have taken the above measures on any vulnerable friends / families phones to help protect them.
Message Sent By:
Fiona Price (Nottinghamshire Police, Fraud Prevention Officer, Nottinghamshire)
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