Police warningof phone fraud

People in the Rye and Battle area are still at risk of being targeted by telephone and courier fraud say Sussex Police.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Mar 2015, 15:00 BST
File photo dated 15/06/06 of credit cards. One in three UK consumers, an estimated 14.6 million, have been a victim of card fraud in the past five years, according to a survey from payment system firm ACI Worldwide. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday February 10, 2011. It is a sharp rise on the 27% of British consumers that had fallen foul of fraudsters just 18 months ago. But customers are increasingly satisfied with their bank's service, with four out of five card fraud victims saying they were happy, compared with three quarters in 2009. According to the survey of 4,200 people across 14 countries, 40% of UK respondents said the speed at which they got their money back was the main reason for satisfaction. Some 300 people in Britain took part in the study. See PA story CONSUMER Fraud. Photo credit should read: Martin Keene/PA Wire ENGPPP00120111002150807File photo dated 15/06/06 of credit cards. One in three UK consumers, an estimated 14.6 million, have been a victim of card fraud in the past five years, according to a survey from payment system firm ACI Worldwide. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday February 10, 2011. It is a sharp rise on the 27% of British consumers that had fallen foul of fraudsters just 18 months ago. But customers are increasingly satisfied with their bank's service, with four out of five card fraud victims saying they were happy, compared with three quarters in 2009. According to the survey of 4,200 people across 14 countries, 40% of UK respondents said the speed at which they got their money back was the main reason for satisfaction. Some 300 people in Britain took part in the study. See PA story CONSUMER Fraud. Photo credit should read: Martin Keene/PA Wire ENGPPP00120111002150807
File photo dated 15/06/06 of credit cards. One in three UK consumers, an estimated 14.6 million, have been a victim of card fraud in the past five years, according to a survey from payment system firm ACI Worldwide. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday February 10, 2011. It is a sharp rise on the 27% of British consumers that had fallen foul of fraudsters just 18 months ago. But customers are increasingly satisfied with their bank's service, with four out of five card fraud victims saying they were happy, compared with three quarters in 2009. According to the survey of 4,200 people across 14 countries, 40% of UK respondents said the speed at which they got their money back was the main reason for satisfaction. Some 300 people in Britain took part in the study. See PA story CONSUMER Fraud. Photo credit should read: Martin Keene/PA Wire ENGPPP00120111002150807

Already in March an 82 year old woman conned to transfer £10,000 into another bank account while a 82-year-old man from Horsham was convinced to try to withdraw a large quantity money from his bank.

However, police say that excellent work by alert bank staff warned him to the fact it was a scam, so no money was withdrawn or handed over.

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Out of 24 people who have reported being called by the scammers on just one day this month (March 3), only one person handed over any money.

There has been a rise in telephone and courier scams in which the victim receives a phone call from a person claiming to be from the police or the victim’s bank.

The offender tries to convince the victim that money has been taken from their accounts and that they should either contact 999 or their bank. They then stay on the line and ask the victim to withdraw cash from their banks or hand over their cards to a courier.

Detective Inspector Gill Sole said: “The message is getting out there that this type of call is a scam but we want to make sure that nobody falls victim to this.

If you have any suspicions about a call, contact police.

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“Police and banks would never phone like this and ask for personal details about bank accounts , pin numbers or ask for money to be withdrawn. If anyone calls claiming to be a police officer and asks you to check the suspicious behaviour with your bank, make sure the line is clear by making the call a significant time later or better still using a different phone.

“I urge anyone reading or hearing this message to pass it on to any friends and relatives who may not be aware of this particular type of targeted fraud, to prevent any vulnerable friends or family members from becoming victims.

“If you have any information, whether you have received similar calls or know someone who has been a victim of this crime, contact Sussex Police via 101 or email [email protected] quoting Operation Edisto.

“You can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

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For on-line advice on fraud prevention, go to http://www.sussex.police.uk/help-centre/ask-us/fraud,-scams-and-financial-issues/what-can-i-do-to-prevent-fraud

The ‘Little Book Of Big Scams’ also gives advice on how to prevent a wide variety of frauds - http://www.sussex.police.uk/media/480981/sussex_police_the_little_book_of_big_scams_online_22.03.13.pdf.

Related topics:PolicePeopleBattleRyeSussex PoliceHorsham