Fake police fraudsters strike twice in Bishop’s Stortford and scam one victim out of more than £110,000

A Bishop’s Stortford resident was scammed out of more than £110,000 by a fraudster posing as a police officer and a second victim from the town lost almost £5,000.

Since the beginning of August, the conmen have stolen more than £135,000 across Hertfordshire.

The scammers pretended to be police officers and asked the victims to hand over their bank cards or cash to a courier.

Detective Inspector Katy Jackson, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s serious fraud and cyber unit, said: “While the number of courier fraud offences reported has dropped from last year, more than £190,000 has still been lost by victims this year.

“It’s important to remember that police officers and bank officials will never ask you for sensitive information, like a PIN, or ask you to purchase high-value items to assist them with an enquiry.

“Usually, the intended victim realises the call is not genuine and refuses to part with their personal and bank details. However, these fraudsters can be very persuasive and insistent, which has resulted in some people falling victim to this scam and subsequently losing thousands of pounds.”

The scammers first struck in Bishop’s Stortford on August 12 and took £4,796.30. The second incident occurred on August 17, when £110,083.60 was defrauded.

In between, there were two crimes in Watford, with £3,995.20 and £7,000 taken on August 15 and 16 respectively.

Two unsuccessful scam attempts took place in Welwyn Garden City and Hertford on August 27 and 29.

In Hitchin, also on August 29, £5,000 was lost, followed by £4,000 in St Albans on September 1 and £500 in Bushey Heath on September 6.

According to the force, these scams usually involve the victim receiving a phone call, from a mobile or a landline number, with someone posing as a police officer or bank official who claims there has been fraudulent activity on their bank account.

The victims are then instructed to put their bank cards and/or money in an envelope and give it to a courier or taxi, sent to their homes by the offenders.

In some cases, the victim may be asked to buy goods or vouchers. If bank cards are collected, they can be used by the conmen to withdraw large sums of money.

The fraudsters may also ask the victim to disclose bank details, including their account and PIN numbers, to aid the bogus investigation.

Police advise: “If you receive a call you’re not expecting, you should be suspicious.”

Residents should be aware that banks and the police would:

• NEVER ask for bank account details or a PIN over the phone, so don’t disclose these to anyone, no matter who they claim to be.

• NEVER ask you to withdraw money or buy high-value items and send it to them via a courier, taxi or by any other means.

• NEVER ask you to send your bank cards or any other personal property to them via courier, taxi or any other means.

Anyone suspicious about a telephone conversation should end the call, wait at least five minutes to ensure they have not been reconnected to the offender or test their landline by calling a friend or relative. Then dial 101 or report online at herts.police.uk/report.

The force also wants residents to report suspicious activity at cashpoints: “If you see someone spending a long time…using a number of different cards and have a hood up or their faces covered, contact police immediately. Often offenders will use cashpoints in the early hours.”

Scam victims should report the details online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.