Scam alert: Elderly man conned out of £8,000 in chilling police impersonation fraud
Fake cop dupes victim into handing over £8k
A man in his late 60s was tricked into handing over a whopping £8,000 after being duped by a scammer posing as a detective chief inspector from Hammersmith police station. The victim received a call on Thursday, May 26, 2022, warning him that his bank card had been “cloned.”
He was told to withdraw large sums of cash to “help with an investigation.” The con didn’t stop there – he also spoke with someone pretending to be from his bank, increasing the scam’s credibility.
Courier swoops in to collect the cash
After the multiple withdrawals, the victim was contacted again and told that a courier would collect the money to take fingerprints from the banknotes to catch the fraudster who cloned his card.
At around 4:45pm, a courier knocked on his Swanley home and snatched the cash. The £8,000 haul was gone in a flash.
Kent Police hunt for courier as warnings go out
Kent Police are on the lookout for the courier seen in CCTV images. Anyone with information is urged to call the appeals line on 01622 604100 quoting reference 46/100922/22. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via their website.
Police warn: Don’t fall for this scam
“A police force will never ask a member of the public for their bank details or money over the phone,” said PC Gareth Mahoney. “If you receive one of these calls, hang up immediately and wait at least five minutes before using your phone again to clear the line from the scammer.”
“Unfortunately, the most vulnerable – such as the elderly or those with learning disabilities – are often targeted. It’s vital people know the signs of fake calls to protect their finances. Friends, neighbours and family members should look out for those who could fall victim to these scams.”
