Fake Cops Hit Kent with Shocking Phone Scam
Seven unsuspecting residents from Ashford, Canterbury, and Folkestone were targeted on Thursday, January 26, by a slick fraudster pretending to be from Hammersmith Police.
The scammer told five victims they’d been arrested for trying to use a cloned bank card in their name. In a clever twist, one victim was told to call 999 – only for the scammer to stay on the line, pretending to confirm the arrest!
Thankfully, everyone grew suspicious and refused to hand over any banking details. The calls were quickly ended before any harm was done.
One Pensioner Loses Big
But the very next day, an eighth victim – a pensioner from the North Downs area – wasn’t so lucky. They were conned out of a large sum of money in a nearly identical phone call.
Police Issue Stern Warning
Margate CID Detective Inspector Sheena Barrell slammed the crooks, saying:
“Scammers are using more believable stories every day. Sadly, their victims are often vulnerable, elderly people who end up losing thousands.”
“Remember, police will never ask for your bank details or money over the phone. Hang up immediately if you get a call like this and report it using our online form.”
How to Spot and Stop the Scam
- Ask for the caller’s details and then end the call to verify after they hang up.
- Wait five minutes before calling 101 or 999 to check if the call was genuine.
- Never hand over money or valuables to couriers sent after a phone call.
If you have any info about these scams, contact Kent Police on 01843 222289 quoting reference 46/16428/23.
You can also report fraud to Action Fraud at 0300 1232040 or via their website. For anonymous tips, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or use their online form.
