Rutland's older folk warned about courier fraud after rise in scams
Leicestershire Police say a total of around £150,000 was reported lost last year
Leicestershire and Rutland Police say they've seen an upturn in the number of courier fraud cases, and that older people are those most at risk of being targeted.
In 2021, there were 68 reported incidents, amounting to around £150,000 in lost items or stolen cards - but there are concerns the actual figures are much higher.
'That's probably a tip of the iceberg figure, it's probably more but people feel quite ashamed or guilty and don't want to report them', said Leicestershire Police's fraud supervisor Nicole McIntyre.
'The losses totalled about £150,000 last year and obviously a lot of those were stopped by the banks before it even got that far.'
What is courier fraud?
Courier fraud is when a phone call is received from someone pretending to be a police officer or bank official that asks the victim to provide a valuable item or bank card for collection - hence, the word 'courier'.
Nicole McIntyre says there are certain steps to take and things to look out for to make sure you or your older relative aren't scammed:
'If you get a bit of a call out of the blue just stop and really think about why this is happening to you; hang up on them, just take five minutes, have a cup of tea, have a think about it before you make any decisions.'
'Talk it through with someone you trust. Challenge this person, and then if you have suffered a loss, report it as soon as you can to your bank.'
'If anything seems a bit odd to you, if you feel like it's quite pressurised or there's grooming language, discuss it with someone you trust or you can call through to the police', she added.
Where to report suspected courier fraud
The force would urge anyone who is contacted by someone they do not know, or cannot verify the identity of, to follow the Take Five To Stop Fraud advice.
Take Five To Stop Fraud advice
Stop: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
Challenge: Could it be fake? It’s okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
Protect: If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.