Older adults are unfortunately a target for phone scams. Follow these simple steps to help protect yourself:

1. Do not reveal personal details, especially bank or financial details.
2. Hang up. If you feel uncomfortable about the questions the person is asking, end the call.
3. Ring the organisation for verification. Look up the number yourself and ring the organisation if you are question whether or not the call is genuine.
4. Don’t feel pressured or rushed to give answers- do not engage in ‘limited-time offer’ or ‘now only’ offers asking for your bank details.

CURRENT ALERTS IN FAIRFORD

26th January, 2019- Telephone Banking Scam

Short version: Stow has recently seen an uptick in telephone scams, assume that these people will target other areas of the Cotswolds. Talk to vulnerable relatives and neighbours and ensure they’re aware that calls like this are never legitimate. See also: https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/

Over the past 7 days, 4 elderly individuals have been targeted in the Stow on the Wold area by the same phone scam resulting in over £30,000 being transferred to scammers.

The MO has been the same throughout all the incidents. The individuals pick up the phone to a well educated male’s voice who says they are from a bank/ the police/ action fraud and there is money being emptied from their accounts as they speak. They are told to go to their local bank and withdraw all their savings into a new account so that the ‘investigators’ can make sure their money is safe and track who is stealing the money.In one case the ‘investigator’ told a female to call the number on the back of her card straight away to be put through to the bank. When she put the phone down the scammer kept the line open so that the new number she dialled went straight back through to the scammer and not the new number.The scammers ask that the phone be left on in the pockets of the individuals so that they can listen in to what is happening in the bank. The scammers then tell them to say that the money is for home improvements or for a holiday so that the withdrawals do not seem suspicious to bank employees.When the money has been transferred the scammer ends the call and moves on to their next target. This leaves someone without all their life savings and with no idea they have been talking to a scammer and not a real bank.If you get a call from someone saying they are from your bank or the police and they want to talk about your bank or money of any kind then please put the phone down and either;- Talk to a neighbour/ friend or family member for advice.
– Call the police on a different phone or ask someone else to call for you on 101.Banks or the police will never ask you to transfer your money into any other accounts or withdraw your money as it is at risk. We will also not ask you to go into the bank to transfer or withdraw money at any time.Due to the increasing frequency of these scams occurring in our area and across the country we would like receivers of this post to talk about it with your elderly neighbours/ family or friends so they are aware this is happening and how to prevent them from making the same mistakes.Kind regards,Charlie Symes
PCSO 9251
Stow Police Station

9th January, 2019- Action Fraud

Action Fraud has experienced an increase in the reporting of malicious calls, voicemails, text messages or emails to members of the public purporting to be from HMRC. For more information, please go to: https://www.neighbourhoodalert.co.uk/da/

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