Watch Out! Police Impersonators Scam Victims Out of Thousands in Courier Fraud
£20,000 Lost to Police Impersonators Since January
Since the start of the year, Nottinghamshire Police have received 20 reports of a shocking scam that’s fleecing vulnerable victims out of thousands of pounds. Organised crime gangs are behind the ruthless con, using a tactic called courier fraud. The scam starts with a call from a crook pretending to be a police officer.
The Scam: Fake Police Calls Lead to Cash and Valuables Being Stolen
Victims get a call from the so-called ‘victim communicator,’ who claims a relative of theirs is in trouble – arrested with a stolen bank card or counterfeit money. They are persuaded to withdraw cash, buy pricey items like Rolex watches or gold bullion, or give away bank details or credit cards. Everything is then collected by a ‘courier’ who visits the victim’s home or a nearby spot, promising the money or items will be returned or replaced – but it never is.
Alarmingly, Nottinghamshire residents have reported calls from fake officers claiming to be from Cheshire Police or the Metropolitan Police. The fraudsters even trick victims into calling a fake emergency number, 191 – but that just connects them to another scammer in the con.
Police Warning: Hang Up and Dial 101, Not 191
“The police will never ask you to withdraw money or send a courier,” said Dale Richardson, Nottinghamshire Police’s fraud protection officer. “And 191 is not a real emergency number. If anyone asks you to call 191, they are trying to scam you.”
She urged victims to hang up immediately, wait 10 minutes, then call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 from a different phone. If you’re asked to visit your bank, always inform staff about the scam, no matter what the caller says.
How to Spot Courier Fraud
- Unsolicited phone calls from fraudsters claiming to be police, bank staff, or engineers.
- Pressure to withdraw cash or buy expensive items for supposed investigations.
- Requests not to tell family or friends about the call.
- Hanging up and calling the bank while leaving the phone line open, allowing the fraudster to impersonate bank staff.
- A courier showing up to collect cash, cards, or valuables.
Protect Yourself with trueCall
To fight back against nuisance calls, Nottinghamshire Police recommend using the trueCall system. It lets calls from known contacts through but blocks unknown or suspicious callers. To get a trueCall device or for advice, call 101 and ask for Dale Richardson.
Don’t let crooks pretend to be cops and rob you blind. Stay sharp, hang up, and always verify through official channels!
