Police warn elderly people to be on their guard against courier fraud after a new spate of incidents in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire

Police are warning elderly people to be on their guard against courier fraud after a new spate of incidents.

They have issued the new warning after cruel scammers took over £55,000 from victims in the nearby Northamptosnhire in 2019.

The message comes after people have also been targeted in Harborough and across Leicestershire.

Callous fraudsters call a victim, claiming to be from their bank, police or another law enforcement authority, and trick them into revealing their PIN number, bank card and personal details.

The shameless crooks will sometimes turn up in person to collect cash from their victims.

Det Insp Matt Davis, of Northamptonshire Police, said the villains targeted older people, often visiting them in their own home.

“The criminals carrying out these scams are exceptionally clever.

“They how to manipulate their victims by making them feel panicked and rushed into actions they will later regret,” said Det Insp Davies.

“Please speak to your elderly relatives about this kind of scam and remind them that a police officer or bank staff member will never ask for your PIN or personal details.

“A genuine member of either organisation will also have no issue with a person putting the phone down and ringing 101 or the bank to establish their true identity.”

The senior detective urged people to remember that neither a bank nor police will ever ask for their PIN or arrange collection of your bank card.

“Your bank and the police will never ask you to make high value purchases or withdraw cash to send for examination.

“Your bank, the police and any genuine organisation will never contact you and ask for your online banking log in details, including a one-time password, or to move money to another account,” said Det Insp Davies.

“If you receive one of these calls, end it immediately and contact the police and your bank via a different phone line, using a number you have verified.

“If you do not have another phone line you can use, hang up and wait five minutes until the line has fully cleared.”