Courier Scams Under Scrutiny in Eastern County
In the eastern part of the county, authorities are currently probing a series of courier frauds that specifically targeted vulnerable individuals. These victims were manipulated into withdrawing funds and converting them to Euros.
On October 3 in Accrington, an elderly couple in their 80s were deceived by a caller impersonating a police officer investigating counterfeit money. The couple was instructed to pull out funds under the pretext of home renovations. After the initial withdrawal, they were coaxed into converting more cash into Euros.
A similar incident surfaced on October 9 in Wilpshire. An unsuspecting victim received a landline call from fake police officers identified as DC 5129 Martin Rose and Sergeant Bullard – names that were later confirmed as fictitious by the authorities. The individual was misled to believe their card had been used for unauthorized Euro purchases, prompting them to withdraw a hefty sum for a “courier” to collect. Two additional calls resulted in further withdrawals and transfers between the victim’s accounts.
In a report dated October 10 from Belthorn, another individual was contacted by a fraudster impersonating DC 5244 Brian Gosling from the Hutton Fraud Team – another fabricated identity. The victim was cajoled into withdrawing substantial amounts and later into exchanging them for Euros. Additionally, they were asked to provide high-value items at a designated location.
DC Thomas Farrell of East CID cautioned the public, emphasizing the severity of these incidents. He stated, “These fraudsters deploy intricate tales to swindle their victims, leading to significant financial losses.” He further reinforced that neither banks nor police officials would ever solicit withdrawals over the phone.
Farrell urged everyone to spread awareness about these fraudulent schemes, especially among the susceptible population segments like the elderly.
Anyone suspecting courier fraud activities, they are advised to reach out at 101 or directly to Action Fraud at 0300 1232040.