Leicestershire Police Issue Warning Over Courier Fraud
Two recent incidents have cost victims in Oakham more than £33,000
Last updated 9th Jul 2022
Officers investigating incidents of fraud are warning people in Stamford and Rutland to be extra vigilant when asked for confidential information over the phone.
There's been a spike in the crime in the area, prompting the force to spread awareness of this activity.
In a statement, Leicester Police, said:
In some instances, after trust has been gained, the fraudster will claim money has been withdrawn from the victim’s account by staff within the bank."
"They persuade them to go their local branch and take out a large sum of money from their account. The fraudsters then send someone to collect the money from the victim’s home address."
"Last week a 75-year-old woman was the victim of this fraud and lost £25,000. She was contacted over a number of days by someone claiming to be a police officer who was investigating counterfeit currency."
"She was told to withdraw cash from her bank account over a few days and a courier was then sent to collect the money on two separate occasions."
Nicole McIntyre is the Supervisor of the Fraud Team for Leicester Police, and says:
"We're trying to spread the awareness, get everyone to talk to their elderly families and friends and neighbours."
"We're trying and put this message in place to help people protect themselves and share the word with put things on our social media pages as often as possible."
"If you have suffered this scam, please call into our 101 numbers. Or if there's anything happening now and it's urgent, you can call the nines and get an emergency response."
"The banks are aware and they've been asked to call it in to the police as an emergency response. If persons are in a bank and we support the take five campaign and action fraud, our partners in the national Fraud Intelligence Bureau."