Chichester couple scammed out of £24k by fraudsters
Police have issued warnings about a number of scams doing the rounds
Sussex Police are issuing a warning to people across West Sussex, after several people fell victim to a new scam in the past month.
Impersonator fraudsters, when people pretend to be from a trustworthy organisation like the police, have been reported to the force in recent weeks.
On one occasion, an elderly couple in Chichester were tricked into spending £24,000 on gold bars. The fraudsters then came and picked the bars up claiming to be from the police force.
A similar case saw someone in Chichester lose £5,000 of their savings to a scammer who said he was with the Met police.
PC Laura Marmolejo said:
"We are urging people to be vigilant if they receive an unsolicited phone call from someone talking about finances.
"There are steps you can take to ensure the person calling is who they say they are. If you’re in doubt, hang up the phone and talk to a trusted family member or friend before making any decisions about your finances.
"People who are genuinely from organisations such as the police will not make you ask you for funds or financial details.
"These are absolutely appalling crimes that exploit victims’ trust and can have a devastating effect on their lives. We are determined to find those responsible and bring them to justice.
"Anyone with information about these crimes is urged to report it to us online or by calling 101.”
The force have released this list of key things to consider when potentially dealing with fraudsters:
- Never send or give money to anyone you don't know or trust.
- Check people are who they say they are.
- Don't share your personal information.
- Make decisions in your own time.
- If in doubt phone a relative or a friend.
- Trust no-one who cold calls you about your bank account or a problem with your computer.
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