Elderly warned to be on guard after £6,000 scam
Elderly people in Shropshire are being warned to be on their guard after a woman was scammed out of £6,000.
Shropshire Trading Standards are investigating the incident, which took place earlier this week.
A pensioner was called by a conman claiming to be from Greater Manchester Police fraud squad. He said he was investigating 'fraudulent bank notes' and said the woman should not tell anybody about the call.
He also told her to keep the phone off the hook and instructed her to go to the bank and withdraw the cash from the cashpoint and over the counter. If challenged, she was to say it was for home improvements.
Later that day, the cash was collected from the victim. She was told the money would be returned to her bank account the following day but it was not.
Gillian Denning, public protection officer from Shropshire Council said: "Trading Standards advise that the police would never contact a person and request that they withdraw cash under any circumstances. If you receive such a call, the best advice is not to engage further with the caller and to hang up immediately.
"The police will never ask you to become part of an undercover investigation or for you to withdraw cash and hand it to them for safe-keeping.
"Be wary of any calls, texts or emails purporting to be from the police asking for your personal or financial details, or for you to transfer money.
"If you are approached, or feel something is suspicious, hang up the phone and don’t reply. Then report it to Action Fraud and your bank on their advertised number."
*For Action Fraud visit actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.
