Reminder to be vigilant following fraud reports

Police are reminding people to be keep an eye on vulnerable family and friends after a number of reports of fraudsters posing as police officers and fake banking employers calling members of the public.

Over the last fortnight, Gloucestershire Constabulary has received at least five reports of people living across the county being targeted, with one person being tricked into handing over £10,000 to the scammers.

Calls have been made to residents in Moreton-in-Marsh, Cirencester, Gloucester and Cheltenham.

On each occasion the fraudster claimed to be either a police officer from London or a person working for the bank.

They have called to claim that either a person has been arrested for fraudulently using their bank cards or because fraudulent activity has been detected on their accounts.

In some cases, the victims have been asked to send their cards to the bank to aid the investigation. However, the addresses given are not bank buildings.

In the latest incident, which took place on Saturday 14 February, a man in his 80s from Cheltenham was called by a person purporting to be from his bank. The caller said the account had been hacked and told him that he should transfer money to another account so that it could be checked. He eventually handed over £10,000. 

Fraudsters are manipulative and victims are often told to not tell their friends or family that they are "helping" with an investigation.

Officers are now urging people to warn their elderly or vulnerable relatives and friends about this type of fraud.

• If you believe you are being targeted by a scammer hang up the phone and use a different phone line to call Action Fraud or the police, as scammers have a way to stay on the line and will pretend to be the police when you call back
• If you don't have access to a different phone line, wait for a period of time, at least 10 minutes, and try calling a family member or friend first to make sure the scammer is no longer on the line
• Neither police nor bank officials will ever ask you to withdraw money from your account, purchase anything or hand over your personal details or passwords
• Just because someone knows basic details about you like your name, address or date of birth, it doesn't mean they are genuine bank or police employees
• Always question suspicious phone calls and report them to Action Fraud or the police.

For further advice on keeping yourself safe from fraud, visit the Constabulary's website: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/