Police are urging the public to be vigilant to cold callers claiming to be police officers following a series of incidents across Norfolk and Suffolk. These incidents have happened throughout the past week where victims have received a telephone call from a man claiming to be a detective. The caller has requested victims to withdraw money in order to aid with an investigation. Courier Fraud happens when a fraudster contacts a victim by telephone claiming to be a police officer, bank or from a government department, among other agencies. A number of techniques will then be adopted in order to convince the victim to hand over their bank details or cash, which may then be passed on to a courier. The public are reminded that banks and the police will NEVER ask someone to withdraw money or purchase items.
Officers have provided the following advice:
- Never give out personal information about your bank account to anybody over the phone. Police and banks will never ask you to give out personal details such as account numbers or PIN numbers.
- If someone calls claiming to be a police officer, ask for their identification number and police force. Hang up and call 101 using a different phone. If you can't use a different phone, wait at least five minutes before calling back. A genuine police officer will not mind waiting while you check.
- Fraudsters will keep the line open and have been known to play ringtones, hold music and a recorded message down the phone so the victim believes they are making a call to a legitimate number. Ensure you can hear a dialling tone before calling police or use a friend or neighbour's telephone instead.
- If you have given out information which could compromise your bank account security in any way, call your bank to cancel your cards as soon as possible.
- Never hand over money to someone at the door to be sent off elsewhere.
If anyone has received a similar type of telephone call or has any information about these incidents, please contact Norfolk Police quoting ‘Operation Radium’ or Suffolk police on 101.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
For further advice, head to the Action Fraud website or call 0300 123 2040.