Warning over fraudsters posing as bank officials or police to scam victims out of large sums of money

In recent days, we’ve had reports of people being targeted by fraudsters pretending to be from their would-be victim’s bank, from the police, or from another official organisation.

The scams see criminals attempting to persuade people to withdraw money from their bank, perhaps saying there has been fraud on the account. The fraudster then arranges for a courier to collect cash, bank cards, or both, from the victim’s home.

Fraudsters who carry out these scams are often very convincing, and give what might appear to be plausible cover stories. Sometimes, they may say that they are carrying out an undercover investigation, and that you shouldn’t let anyone else know about their call. They may also say that your account is at risk if you don’t act fast.

If they manage to convince you, they instruct you to do something which means you’re handing them your money. For instance, they may ask you to withdraw money (or foreign currency) for the courier to collect for evidence. They might also ask for details such as your PIN over the phone, before a courier collects your credit or bank cards.

We continue to receive reports of this scam here in South Wales. So please, if you have older relatives who don’t use social media, speak to them about this. Help them stay vigilant around their finances, and remind them that neither the bank nor the police will ever call and ask for verification of personal details or bank details, or for your PIN. Nor will either organisation send someone out to collect cash or cards from you.

Our advice:

• Your bank or the police will never call and ask you to verify your personal details or PIN. If you get a call asking you to do this, hang up, wait a few minutes and call your bank on a number you know to be genuine, such as the one on the back of your card
• Your bank or the police will never send a courier to your home to collect your cash, bank cards, PINs, or any other valuable goods. Any requests to do so are part of a scam
• The police will not contact you out of the blue and ask you to participate in an investigation that requires you to withdraw money from your bank, or to purchase high value goods, such as jewellery or gold