South Yorkshire Police issue courier fraud warning

South Yorkshire Police is supporting Operation Radium, a nationwide drive to target criminals involved in courier fraud and to build up more information on the organised crime groups behind the scams.

Courier fraud involves victims receiving a phone call from a criminal pretending to be from the police or another official organisation such as a bank.

The fraudster claims there is an issue with the victim's bank account, or requests the victim’s help in an ongoing bank or police investigation.

Victims - many of whom are elderly or vulnerable - are then asked to withdraw a large sum of money which they are told will be collected by a courier for ‘evidence’.

Other versions of the scam have seen victims told to withdraw large amounts of foreign currency, or purchase high value items such as watches.

This week, South Yorkshire officers will be circulating courier fraud information leaflets and raising awareness among taxi drivers, who it is feared may unknowingly become part of the scam by driving a courier to a victim’s home or a victim to their bank.

South Yorkshire Police’s Fraud Protect Officer, Andy Foster, said: “Residents in South Yorkshire are no more or less likely to become a victim than people anywhere else in the country, which is why the word needs to be spread far and wide to ensure we can protect ourselves and each other.

“I'd ask everybody to be extremely suspicious of unsolicited phone calls from your bank or the police - and don't think it is authentic simply because the person on the other end of the phone knows basic personal details about you like your name or address.

“If you think you are on the phone to a fraudster, hang up the phone straightaway and then call back your bank, or the police, on a different phone line or mobile. If you can't do that, wait at least 30 minutes before calling and use the telephone number on your bank card, or for police dial 101.”