Pensioners have been warned about fake couriers after a spike in cases saw millions of pounds lost to fraudsters.
In the last three months, scammers pretending to be part of a police-led courier service stole a total of £19.6 million, with all the victims aged between 75 and 91 years old.
According to fraud reporting service Action Fraud, the scam involves criminals posing as the police or the victim’s bank to contact households insisting their account has been hacked.
Victims are then pressured to transfer money or buy gold bullion and jewellery to help the fake investigation. In many cases, couriers will then come to pick up valuable items but in some instances, the con artists have even posed as police and taken away money, jewellery and bank cards.
The issue is particularly rife in the east and south of the UK, with one victim in Essex losing £5.3 million while another in Cambridgeshire had almost £2 million stolen.
It comes after £60 million was lost last year through bogus Facebook Marketplace listings and follows a flood of fake retailers to appear online this year.
Victims of scams are ‘losing their life savings’
Detective Sergeant Victoria O’Keefe, at the City of London Police, said: “The victims of this crime are losing significant amounts of money and on some occasions, it amounts to their life savings.
“In many of the recent reported cases, the victims are being encouraged to purchase gold bullion, but may not ask to look at it, have no interest in the item or are not able to give a satisfactory reason for the purchase. They may also appear slightly evasive or nervous and will want to buy the item and leave as soon as possible.”
O’Keefe added: “If you are a jeweller or gold dealer, we urge you to look out for the signs of courier fraud. The victims of these crimes are often told to give cover stories on why they are purchasing the item, and they believe what they are doing is legitimate. Another tell-tale sign is that the victim may be on the phone to someone whilst they make the purchase.
“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.”
How to avoid courier fraud
The City of London Police, which leads the national force for fraud, provided tips on how to ensure this doesn’t happen to you.
- Install a device called a call blocker unit which filters unwanted scams and nuisance calls. The unit stops callers from getting through to your landline. The devices allow calls from a trusted caller list set by the user for friends, family members, doctors and any other trusted contacts. If you want to know more about call blockers, visit www.truecall.co.uk.
- Any jewellers or gold dealers who believe a customer may be the victim of a fraud which is in progress should call the police immediately on 999.
- Reports of fraud should also be made to Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, reports of fraud can be made to Police Scotland on 101.
