Police are urging caution after incidents of courier fraud

The victims are estimated to have lost a combined total of over £25,000. They were all called via their landline phones by a man who referred to himself as DC Matthew Phillip or Matthew Phillips from the Epsom Fraud Team. He then went on to tell them that there was some fraudulent activity at their bank, on their account, or suspicious activity at a foreign money exchange, and asked the victims to withdraw some money.

Having won their trust, he was able to specify how much money, which denominations he wanted it in, and to instruct them to hand it over to a courier or even to the suspect in person.

Surrey Police do not have an officer by the name of Matthew Phillip or Matthew Phillips. Police will also never ask for your bank details or ask you to withdraw money and hand it over to anyone.

The suspect has been described as an ‘olive-skinned’ man of Mediterranean appearance. He is thought to be in his early 20’s, about 5 ft10 in height and very thin. He has short dark hair and dark eyes and was wearing black or blue ‘Beats-style’ headphones and a black tracksuit with thick white stripes down the side.

This type of fraud is usually highly organised and very lucrative for offenders. Victims face a significant financial loss and suspects often prey on older or more vulnerable adults.

Please look out for your elderly or vulnerable relatives or neighbours, and pass on the key information below:

• Your bank or the police will never call you to ask you to verify your personal details or PIN by phone or offer to pick up your card by courier. Hang up if you get a call like this.

• If you need to call your bank back to check, wait five minutes; fraudsters may stay on the line after you hang up. Alternatively, use a different line altogether to call your bank.

• Your debit or credit card is yours – don’t let a stranger take it off you. You should only ever have to hand it over at your bank. If your card is cancelled, you should destroy it yourself.

If you have any information that might assist our investigation, please contact Surrey Police quoting crime reference number PR/45210106361 via:

· Webchat on their website

· Online

· Calling 101

If you don’t want to speak to police, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

• Crimestoppers
• Fraud
• surrey police