Warrington residents urged to be vigilant of courier fraudsters

Cheshire Police are continuing to warn people in Warrington to be vigilant against courier fraud.

There a several reports coming in of incidents where elderly residents have been targeted by fraudsters posing as police officers. The scammers contacted the victims by phone, claiming to be from the police or fraud squad.

They instructed them to withdraw large sums of money and hand it over to a courier to safeguard their funds as their bank card has been used fraudulently. The scammer orders a taxi to collect the victim and take them to the bank, where they are instructed to withdraw the money.

DI David Schofield said:

“I would urge anyone who has elderly relatives or neighbours to warn them not to be taken in by this scam. There are a number of ways to prevent fraud, and I would advise you make them familiar with these tips to keep them safe from fraudsters.”

Here are some safety tips to help prevent courier fraud:

• Never provide personal or financial information to someone you don't know, especially over the phone.
• If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately.
• Contact your bank directly using a known and trusted phone number to verify any requests for money or sensitive information.
• Never withdraw large sums of money based on instructions from someone claiming to be from the police or a bank.
• If you think you have been a victim of courier fraud, contact the police immediately on 101 or Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
• Remember, genuine organisations will never cold call you asking for this information. If you're ever in doubt, hang up and contact the organization directly using a known and trusted phone number.