Elderly Targeted in Bank and Police Scam Attempts
Two elderly women near Kent found themselves in the crosshairs of cold-hearted scammers on 31 January 2022. One was duped by a fake bank caller, the other dodged a police impersonator’s ploy.
Fake Bank Alert: Transfer Attempt Blocked
The first victim received a call from someone pretending to work at her bank. The caller claimed her account was compromised and demanded she visit the local branch to move her money to a “safe” account.
Thankfully, the bank intervened just in time when the woman arrived. They stopped the suspicious transfer. But it wasn’t the first time—the victim later revealed she had already fallen for a similar scam and transferred money previously.
Fake Police Call Sparks Suspicion
On the same day, another elderly woman got a call from a con artist posing as a police officer. When asked for personal details, she grew suspicious and hung up immediately, dodging a bullet.
Police Warn: Stay Sharp, Don’t Fall for Money Scams
Inspector Guy Thompson, Canterbury’s Community Safety Unit, said: “If anyone contacts you claiming to be from your bank or the police, do not agree to transfer any money.
Always get independent or legal advice if money is involved. Talk to family or friends before making decisions.
Don’t feel ashamed to report a scam. These fraudsters are clever—anyone can be fooled. Reporting them helps protect others.”
If you get a suspicious call from someone claiming to be a police officer, hang up and contact 101 to verify their identity. Wait five minutes before calling back, as scammers sometimes keep the line open after you hang up.
Stay Informed, Stay Safe
For the latest fraud advice, visit Kent Police Fraud Advice or the national Take Five Campaign.
