Elderly and vulnerable people in Suffolk, including Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, Newmarket, Felixstowe and Sudbury, targeted by scammers posing as police
Suffolk’s elderly and vulnerable are being targeted by scammers.
In the last month alone, criminals have tricked people in their 80s and 90s into handing over more than £180,000.
One victim was conned into handing over £106,000 – and gold bullion.
Courier fraud is when a fraudster calls victims pretending to be a police officer.
The conman then convinces them they must hand over money or bank cards to a courier, who will collect it on behalf of the police to aid an investigation.
Suffolk Police say there has been a spate of courier fraud in the county, predominantly in the west and the south.
Since the beginning of January some 23 cases, including attempts, have been recorded, having a devastating affect.
Detective Sergeant Jamie Adams, of Suffolk Constabulary Fraud Assessment Unit, said: “We have always had courier fraud but it was around one or two cases a week.
“There has been a real increase through December and January, with one or two a day. Last week, we had six cases in one day.
“The worst case involved an 81-year-old victim, from West Suffolk, who was conned out of £106,000.
“The fraudsters had them under their charms for a month or so, pretending to be from the Met Police fraud squad.
“They fed the victim a story that they had arrested some suspects who had bank cards in the victims’ names.
“They then told them that they would need to withdraw some money so it could be checked for finger prints.
“Unfortunately, the elderly person fell for it and drew out various amounts of money over the next month, to then pass it all to a courier, over three occasions, after meeting in supermarket car parks.
“It culminated in them purchasing £68,000 worth of gold bullion, which they also handed over.”
Other recent cases include:
• Bury St Edmunds area: A 90-year-old victim lost £4,000. Caller said they were local police and that there had been a fraudulent transaction on their bank card. They were asked to assist by withdrawing money for collection. A courier collected the money from victim’s home address.
• Haverhill area: Over a 10-day period, an 83-year-old victim lost £56,000. A caller said they were from Met Police fraud team and their card had been used for fraudulent transactions. They withdrew various amounts of cash and foreign currency which was collected from their home address. They also purchased gold and jewellery from London, which was also collected.
Attempts included:
• Sudbury area: An 83-year-old victim. Caller said they were a Pc from Norfolk and that a family member had been arrested with cash and cards and they were concerned the victim had been targeted. The victim did not respond and ended the call.
Ds Adams said the the scammers were getting ever more sophisticated.
He said: “Sometimes, they tell a victim they will keep their money safe and will return it. Or they will say they will convert it into gold or expensive jewellery, as this ‘is a safe commodity’, and that they will then give it back.
“We also had one incident where the perpetrators caught a train from London to Ipswich, before getting a taxi to Southwold to collect the cash.
“They’re using public transport, so they are a lot harder to locate and trace.
“Often the bank will pick up on the unusual activity, as they did with the couple who lost £106,000. But the scammers will also tell the victim to tell them stories, such as the money is to purchase a car, or to help their daughter move house.
“They know full well that bank staff will ask personal questions but tell the victim not to say anything because it is part of the police investigation.
“Lately, they have also been saying they are from the the victim’s local police station, using town names, such as Stowmarket or Sudbury, to make it sound more plausible.”
The effect on the victim is harrowing.
“It’s awful for those who have been taken advantage of. Their trust goes, their confidence goes; their savings and money goes.
“They may have affected their family members’ futures after losing inheritance money and are devastated.
“Victims often feel embarrassed, or ‘silly’, which is why we are issuing our urgent appeal for people to share the message about what is happening.
“Sometimes it’s a son or daughter who discovers what has happened, or is happening.
“Their mum or dad will say they have been speaking to the police about problems with their bank account and the son or daughter will realise.
“It’s just having these conversations and getting the message out that there are scammers targeting the elderly and the vulnerable in Suffolk.
“I don’t have words to describe how despicable this crime is and at the moment it seems we are being targeted, most likely because of the older demographic.
“It doesn’t seem to be happening elsewhere quite as much, apart from West Yorkshire.
“We are targeted for a month or two before they almost wring us dry. Then they move on, before coming back in a few months’ time. They sometimes also pretend to be bank staff.”
Police say it is unclear how victims are selected.
“We suspect it may be from information sold on the dark web, as they do seem to work using a target list,” said Ds Adams.
“Not all victims have suffered a loss. Some have realised it was a scam and have hung up when they realised.
“Others have been stopped from withdrawing money by bank clerks when they have tried to withdraw large sums.”
Ds Adams had the following advice.
“If people have any concerns about the legitimacy of the call please contact Suffolk Police on 101, ideally via another phone line or other method, to verify the details of the officer provided.
“Do this only after ending the caIl as sometimes the scammers will try to trick people, while still on the line, and pose as someone else.
“If you have elderly or vulnerable neighbours, friends or family, I would ask you inform them of this guidance and to check with someone they trust,if contacted in a similar manner.”
For more details about checking police officers’ identities, please visit: www.suffolk.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/how-to-check-an-officers-identity/
If an officer needs to speak to you on the phone, they will identify themselves clearly.
A police officer would never:
• Ask you for your bank details or PIN
• Ask you to transfer funds to another account
• Ask you to hand over cash or bank cards to a courier
• Ask you to pay a fine or a fee to them or a third party over the phone or online
• Ask you for access to your computer, passwords or log on details over the phone or online
• Ask you to register personal details in an attachment or website online
• Ask you to 'assist' in an investigation by doing any of the above
• State that you are committing a crime by not complying
• Communicate in an abusive, threatening or coercive manner
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