The average age of the victims is 73, with many in their 80s and 90s
Elderly victims have lost £750,000 in a growing scam known as ‘courier fraud’ where criminals pose as police carrying out an undercover operation – and stealing their winter heating money.
The average age of the victims is 73, with many in their 80s and 90s.
In just 15 weeks victims in the capital have lost roughly £750,000, with the areas most affected being Twickenham, Hillingdon, Westminster and Ealing.
The fraudsters contact Londoners, usually by phone, and claim to be from the police or a fraud team from their bank.
They claim to be investigating a fraud at a local bank branch, where fake notes are issued and staff are suspected of being involved.
The victim is asked to help support police by visiting the branch and withdrawing a substantial sum of the supposedly counterfeit cash to hand over to ‘officers’ for ‘analysis’.
Between £3,000 and £7,000 is usually withdrawn, and in some cases the fraudster will ask the victim to give them their bank card and pin.
The fraudsters contact Londoners, usually by phone, and claim to be from the police or a fraud team from their bank
In just 15 weeks victims in the capital have lost roughly £750,000, with the areas most affected being Twickenham, Hillingdon, Westminster and Ealing
The conman instructs the victim not to discuss the case with anyone in the branch, giving plausible explanations why they are withdrawing the cash.
Despite being questioned by bank staff, the victim takes out the cash, convinced the staff are part of a fraud.
The criminal will then visit the victim’s home address and collect the money or bank cards, usually quoting a password that they had agreed with them.
The conman instructs the victim not to discuss the case with anyone in the branch, giving plausible explanations why they are withdrawing the cash
The victim is assured the money will be deposited back into their account after the operation is complete.
But once the money is handed over, the fraudster disappears with the cash.
In another version of the scam, people are convinced to transfer money to a ‘safe account’ to protect funds from ‘corrupt’ bank staff, which is actually controlled by the fraudster.
Detective Chief Inspector Gary Miles, of the Met’s Fraud and Linked Crime Online unit, said: ‘This is a particularly despicable deception targeting elderly and vulnerable people, preying on their trust of authority figures.
‘The fraudsters lack any moral compass or conscience and are expert in manipulating people to give up confidential information.’
Scotland Yard said police and banks will never ask members of the public to take part in an anti-fraud operation or to transfer money to a ‘safe account’.