ELDERLY residents across Wokingham borough have been preyed upon by fraudsters claiming to be police officers in an audacious scam.
Now, Thames Valley Police is issuing a warning for people: police officers will never ask you to withdraw cash from your bank or arrange for a courier to collect valuable from you.
The incidents, which are believed to be linked, all took place between Monday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 12. Every one of the victims was elderly.
In each case, the frauds were committed by a person claiming to be a police officer from Hammersmith Police.
The offender contacted each of the victims by telephone and asked them to withdraw cash from their bank account as part of a bogus police investigation.
Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Terry Dixon from Loddon Valley CID, said: “The police will never ask you to withdraw cash from your bank account, or arrange for a courier to collect valuables from you”.
He added that anyone receiving a call from someone claiming to be a police officer and asking you to withdraw cash or send valuable items, they should hang up immediately and contact Thames Valley Police on 101.
Do not call any other number as you could be speaking to another fraudster.
And Police said that when making this call it is important to use a different phone. If no other phone is available, wait at least five minutes to ensure the phone line has cleared before making the phone call – this is because it is the caller who needs to hang up, rather than the victim. If the caller does not hang up they can pretend to be the number the victim is attempting to call.
DC Sergeant Dixon said: “I would encourage anyone with elderly or vulnerable family, friends or neighbours to make them aware of this type of fraud. Please share our crime prevention advice to help prevent them from becoming a victim.
“If you have any information in relation to these incidents, please report the details on the Thames Valley Police website quoting reference 43190162366. Alternatively, you can call the non-emergency telephone number, 101, or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
For more advice about how to protect yourself against fraud visit www.thamesvalley.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/personal-fraud/
