Police urge public to raise threat of phone fraud with vulnerable friends and relatives

Phone fraudsters continue to target vulnerable people – and officers are asking people to raise the issue with friends and relatives.

People such as older members of the community can often be the victim of crimes where people use phones, often landlines, to pose as officials to get at their cash.

This scam often fits the pattern of fraudsters pretending to be officials, such as bank fraud teams, police officers or HMRC officials.  

The fraudsters often request bank details, money to be sent electronically, cash to be withdrawn at the bank for collection by a courier or expensive items to be bought for collection at a later time.

Recently, a man in his nineties was persuaded to drive across the county to hand over money.

Fran Henderson, a Cumbria Police specialist in preventing fraud, said: “The fraudsters who carry out these offences are very persuasive, very friendly and extremely good at making you believe their story. “We need people to speak to older relatives, neighbours and friends who may not see our warnings and stress they should be suspicious of any call they are not expecting. 

“If they have any concerns that the person on the phone may be a fraudster, people should put the phone down. 

"As fraudsters have been known to stay on the line, please wait five minutes and only when you hear the dial tone should you contact the police on 101 for advice and guidance. Alternatively, call the police from a different phone. ”

The key advice

Your bank, other agencies and the police would:

If you think you have been the victim of a fraud you can report this to police on 101. Always use 999 in an emergency