Police in Bedfordshire are asking residents to be extra vigilant when giving
bank information over the telephone after receiving several reports of a
scam.
The two most recent reports were received on July 23 and July 17 after
residents in Houghton Regis and Dunstable received telephone calls from bogus
police officers telling the victims that their bank details had been cloned.
The offenders told the victims that they were police officers from the
Metropolitan Police Force and that they needed to confirm details of the
victim’s banking details and would call around to their home to collect the
original bank cards.
The same or the following day a man posing as a police officer then attended
the victim’s home and collected the bank cards which were then used
fraudulently.
A further four incidents following the same pattern have also been recorded
within the last few months and appear to target older residents in the Dunstable
and Houghton Regis areas.
Mark Collis, of Bedfordshire Police’s Crime Bureau, is keen to warn residents
of the scam and urges them not to give bank information to anyone who telephones
their home; even if they say they are a police officer.
Mr Collis said: “These offenders are very plausible when they speak to people
over the telephone and even give telephone numbers to the victims to check their
credentials. I would urge people to contact their local force using 101 to
verify the identity of any person telephoning your home and not to hand any bank
cards over to anyone calling at your home. You should contact your bank directly
if you think your cards have been compromised and never give anyone your pin
number or your bank security answers as these will allow them to access your
account. If you are at all concerned about telephone calls or callers to your
home who ask for your bank details you can always go into your local police
station or bank in person and speak to a representative direct to verify what is
happening.”
Anyone with information relating to these crimes can contact Bedfordshire
Police on 101, or text information to 07786 200011.
Alternatively you can contact the independent crime fighting charity
Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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