Scam warning

Warning issued over fraudsters posing as police in high-end watch scam

With the festive season in full swing, we are urging the public to be vigilant should they receive a phone call from fraudsters claiming to be the police.

A recent incident in Malton nearly saw an 80-year-old victim spend £35,000 on what they believed was a high end watch. Fortunately, our officers managed to persuade the victim that this was, in fact, a scam before any money was taken.

These scams see fraudsters phoning their victims on their home landlines. Posing as the police, they instruct the victim to dial 999 in order to verify who they are and that it is legitimate. In reality, the fraudsters never hang up, and instead, the line remains open.

As a result, when the victim dials 999, they are unknowingly still speaking to the fraudster or an accomplice. They then proceed to tell the victim that their bank is defrauding them and, as part of the scam, a jewellery shop is selling fake watches and they need the victim’s help to catch them out. This grooming can continue to happen repeatedly over many days.

The victim is then instructed to go and buy an expensive watch, with fraudsters sometimes giving them specific makes and models. They then tell them the watch is fake and not to divulge any information to the shop's staff, as they are part of the fraud gang - with the same lies told about the bank. The fraudsters reassure the victim that they will be reimbursed for any purchases made.

If questioned in the shop, they’re usually told to say it’s a gift for a family member or some other plausible story. After buying the watch they hand it over with the receipt to a ‘courier’. They also tell them not to tell family and friends anything as this is an official police operation and the matter is secret. This can happen multiple times with many watches bought on different days and handed to the fraudsters.

Due to the extensive grooming the victim has experienced up to this point, they will now likely believe the fraudsters completely, and as a result, are less likely to tell anyone what is happening.

Who is being targeted?

The victims of these particular scams are typically elderly people who are in their 70s or 80s, with no previous history of buying an expensive watch.

They rarely have any detailed knowledge about the high end watch market and any questions they do have will be met with vague answers by the fraudsters.

However, by telling them this is a scam and describing the circumstances above, which may match their own experiences, may make them realise.

How to protect yourself and your loved ones

If you are in any doubt about the legitimacy of a phone call then we urge you to contact the police as soon as possible.

We have included several pieces of advice from Report Fraud about similar tactics known as courier fraud, where fraudsters will call you and claim to be a police officer or from your bank.

Spot the Signs

How it happens

You may get called on your mobile or landline by someone who claims to be from your bank or the police. They say their systems have spotted a fraudulent payment on your card or it is due to expire and needs to be replaced.

They might suggest that you hang up and redial the number of their bank or police force to reassure you that they’re genuine. However, they don’t disconnect the call from the landline so that when you dial the real phone number, you’re still speaking to the same fraudster.

They’ll then ask you to read out your credit or debit card PIN or type it on your phone keypad. They may ask for details of other accounts you hold with the bank or elsewhere to grab more information.

Then they promise to send a courier to you to collect your bank card. The fraudster will have your name, address, full bank details, card and its PIN, and withdraw cash using the card and may even use the information to commit identity fraud in your name.

If you've given your bank details over the phone or handed your card to a courier, call your bank immediately to cancel your card.