Warning after scammers steal £1000s from elderly people in Harborough and across Leicestershire

Elderly people are being urged to be extra vigilant after a string of victims in Leicestershire – including Harborough – were duped out of thousands of pounds by scammers.

The new warning is going out after 17 people in the county have been targeted by courier fraud criminals posing as police officers since December 10.

Seven of those victims alone handed over more than £135,000 to the ruthless crooks.

The victims get a call from someone claiming to be a police officer who’s investigating counterfeit currency or fraudulent use of the victim’s bank card, said Leicestershire Police.

A woman in her 80s in Oadby was contacted in December by someone claiming he was a Metropolitan Police officer from London investigating counterfeit currency.

Over a period of time the suspect gained the victim’s trust.

The criminal told the victim to withdraw a large sum of money and purchase gold so they could check the money wasn’t counterfeit.

A courier was then sent to the victim’s home to collect the gold.

The shocked victim lost more than £30,000.

In another incident a Knighton man in his 80s was contacted over a period of two weeks in December by someone claiming he was a police officer from London.

He said he was investigating fraudulent transactions on the victim’s wife’s bank card.

The suspect claimed the bank card was used in a department store to purchase two high value watches.

The pensioner was told to withdraw a large sum of money from his bank and purchase gold bars from a local jeweller’s.

The victim forked out £40,000 for the gold bars and they were picked up by a courier.

Paul Wenlock, of Leicestershire Police economic crime unit, said: “We are growing increasingly concerned about these types of offences.

“Suspects are gaining the victim’s trust over a period of a few weeks and ensuring they don’t speak to anyone about the calls.

“They sound genuine and victims feel they have no choice but to do as they are told.”

He added: “These types of offences are borderless crimes.

“Those responsible target victims not necessarily in their own area but across the country.

“We work closely with forces across the country to ensure any intelligence identified during investigations is shared.

“A number of warnings have been issued about these crimes.

“But we know not everyone accesses social media or the internet, so we are asking the public to help us by informing their neighbours or relatives about these offences.

“They should be advised that police officers would never contact them in this way.

“If they are called they should disconnect the call straightaway and report the incident to the police using another telephone, as on some occasions calls can remain connected.

“On some occasions suspects will use local taxi or courier companies, who unknowingly accept the job.

“We would ask that people remain vigilant and if they are contacted to collect packages be mindful of who they are collecting these from if they have any suspicions to report them to the police immediately.”

Further advice about these offences can be found on https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/a-z-of-fraud/courier-fraud