Fraudsters posing as police officers have been contacting resident in Hertfordshire. Older residents, including those living in retirement villages, have been particularly targeted. If you are a homecare provider, please share this information with the people you support and their families. This crime has a devastating effect on people, so we need to raise awareness and prevent more people from becoming victims.
The scams usually start with a phone call. The caller claims to be a police officer and tells you there is fraudulent activity on your bank account. You are then asked to put their bank cards and/or money into an envelope and give them to a courier or taxi driver, who is sent to your home by the caller. In some cases, victims are asked to buy goods or vouchers.
The phoney police officer may also ask for your bank details, such as your account and PIN numbers, as part of their “investigation”. This is a scam.
If you receive an unexpected call, you should be suspicious. It is vital to remember that your bank and the police would:
- NEVER ask for your bank account details or PIN number over the phone. Do not disclose these to anyone, no matter who they claim to be.
- NEVER ask you to withdraw money or purchase items and send it to them via a courier or by any other means.
- NEVER ask you to send your bank cards or any other personal property via courier or by any other means.
If you are suspicious of a caller, please end the call.
Remember, when reporting a suspicious phone call to police, use another phone or test your line first by phoning a friend or relative, to ensure you aren’t still unwittingly connected to the fraudster. In an emergency or if a crime is in progress call 999.
If you have concerns about your bank account, visit your local branch.
Some phone companies offer call screening services to help block marketing cold calls and bogus callers. Contact your phone company and ask about call screening and caller display services.
The OWL mobile app notifies you when there’s an important alert for your area. Click here to find out more and download.
Police Contact Advice
- Telephone 999 in an emergency where there is a danger to life or a crime is in progress.
- Telephone 101 for non-emergencies where police attendance is required, to report a crime or to report any other incidents.
- Alternatively, visit www.herts.police.uk/contact to report a non-emergency crime online or chat to a police operator live via our web chat service.
- If you are calling about the above message, please tell us that you are responding to a message from OWL.