Elderly residents in Gedling are being warned to be on their guard against doorstep conmen who are claiming to be police officers to get their hands on bank cards and pin numbers.
The warning comes after a number of incidents involving fraudsters contacting pensioners either by phone or calling round to homes and claiming to be from the police.
The fake officers claim they are investigating a fraud which they believe the elderly person has been a victim of. They then request to see bank cards and personal identification numbers (PIN) of the victim and claim these are needed for investigation purposes.
If the victim was first contacted by made phone, fake officers will tell the victim that someone will be over to collect the evidence. In one case a victim was instructed to attend their local bank and withdraw all of the money from their account. The suspect was left alone in the victim’s house whilst the victim carried out the instructions.
A spokesman for the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau said: “Before letting anyone into your home who claims to be from any law enforcement agency, ask to see their identity card and check it by calling 101.
“If you receive a phone call from a police officer, ask for their name and force and tell them you will call them back. Wait a few minutes and then use 101 to call them back through their force’s switchboard and verify their identity.”
They added: “The Police will never ask for your PIN or passwords. Do not give this information to anyone. The Police will never request that you withdraw/transfer any money to them.”
If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud you can report it online http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud or by telephone 0300 123 2040.
