Fake Hammersmith Police Scam Targets Kent Residents
On Thursday, January 26, 2023, seven people from Ashford, Canterbury, and Folkestone received chilling calls from a fraudster pretending to be from ‘Hammersmith Police.’
The scammer told five victims they had been arrested for trying to use a cloned bank card in their name. One was even told to dial 999—but the con artist stayed on the line, redirecting the call back to themselves.
Luckily, all seven became suspicious, refused to hand over any bank details, and ended the calls.
Pensioner Falls Victim the Next Day
On Friday, January 27, a pensioner from the North Downs wasn’t so lucky. The same scam hit them, and they lost a substantial amount of money.
Detective Inspector’s Warning
Margate CID Detective Inspector Sheena Barrell says: “Scammers are spinning ever more believable stories to trap their victims, often elderly and vulnerable, into handing over large sums of cash.
Remember, no police force will ever ask for your bank details or money over the phone. If you get a suspicious call, hang up immediately and report it using our online form.”
How to Spot and Stop These Scams
- Ask the caller for their details, then end the call.
- Wait five minutes before calling 101 or 999 to ensure the line clears. Confirm if the call was genuine with a call handler.
- Never hand over money or valuables to anyone claiming to collect them after such a call.
If you have info on these bogus police calls, contact Kent Police on 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/16428/23.
You can also reach out to Action Fraud at 0300 123 2040 or report suspicious activity online.
For anonymous tips, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or use their secure online form.
