West Mercia Police are warning residents to remain vigilant after a number of elderly people in Hereford and North Herefordshire were targeted by fraudsters using a sophisticated courier fraud scam.
The warning follows several reports in recent weeks, including an incident in Hereford on Friday, 28 August, in which an elderly victim was pressured into withdrawing money from their bank and handing it over to a courier. The victim was also persuaded to purchase high value items and transfer a large amount of money into another bank account.
Police have also received a report from North Herefordshire involving another elderly victim who was contacted by a fraudster pretending to be a police officer. The victim was pressured into transferring a significant amount of money to another account.
Officers say these incidents are part of a wider pattern of courier fraud targeting vulnerable and often elderly people, with criminals using convincing stories and false identities to persuade victims that their money or bank accounts are at risk.
Courier fraud typically begins with a telephone call from someone claiming to represent the police, another law enforcement organisation or a bank. The fraudster may tell the victim that there has been suspicious activity on their account or that their bank details have been compromised.
The criminal then attempts to persuade the victim to provide sensitive financial information, including their PIN or credit and debit card details. In other cases, victims are instructed to withdraw cash, transfer money to another account or purchase expensive items before handing them over to a person described as a courier.
The approach can be particularly convincing because fraudsters often create a sense of urgency and fear. Victims may be told that they need to act immediately to protect their money or assist with an alleged police investigation. Once the victim believes the caller is genuine, they can be persuaded to carry out transactions they would normally consider suspicious.
Sadly, elderly people remain among the most common victims of courier fraud. West Mercia Police are therefore urging family members, friends and carers to speak to older relatives and anyone they believe may be vulnerable to this type of scam.
Detective Inspector Mel Reynolds said people should remain particularly cautious about unexpected telephone calls involving requests for money or personal banking information.
“Please continue to remain vigilant around courier fraud and look out for vulnerable family or friends who are more at risk of falling victim to these con artists. Make sure they are aware of this scam,” she said.
Police have stressed that there is a simple rule residents should remember when receiving this type of call. Genuine police officers will never ask members of the public to make a payment, purchase items, withdraw or transfer money, or provide their bank details as part of an investigation.
“Always remember, no police officer from any force will ever ask you to make a payment or purchase, withdraw or transfer money or ask for your bank details,” Detective Inspector Reynolds said.
The warning follows reports that fraudsters have recently attempted to make their stories appear more credible by claiming to be the “Chief Police Officer of Hereford” or by saying they work for the Metropolitan Police.
West Mercia Police are urging anyone who receives an unexpected call of this nature to end the conversation and independently contact their bank or the police to check whether the call was genuine.
Detective Inspector Reynolds advised residents to use a different landline or mobile phone when making the verification call rather than immediately calling back using the number on which they received the suspicious call.
This is important because fraudsters can sometimes attempt to keep a telephone line open, meaning a victim may believe they have successfully contacted their bank or the police when they are still connected to the original scammer.
Residents should never feel pressured into making an immediate financial decision because someone on the telephone claims there is an emergency. Taking time to end the call and independently verify the information can prevent a potentially devastating financial loss.
West Mercia Police are tackling incidents of this nature through Operation Prospero, an operation focused specifically on offenders who pose as police officers to deceive members of the public. The force is working with Report Fraud as part of efforts to identify offenders and disrupt courier fraud activity.
Police are also encouraging people to talk openly about fraud. Victims can sometimes feel embarrassed or ashamed after discovering that they have been deceived, which can make them reluctant to report what happened. However, reporting an incident can help investigators identify patterns, protect other potential victims and build a clearer picture of how fraudsters are operating.
Family members can also play an important role by having regular conversations with older relatives about telephone scams. A simple reminder that police officers and banks will never demand that someone withdraw or transfer money can make it easier for a potential victim to recognise a scam when they receive an unexpected call.
The latest incidents in Hereford and North Herefordshire demonstrate how criminals continue to exploit trust and fear to obtain money from members of the public. Fraudsters may use official sounding titles, references to police investigations and claims of suspicious banking activity to make their demands appear legitimate.
Anyone who receives a suspicious call should take a step back, end the conversation and independently contact the organisation the caller claims to represent. People should never provide their PIN, passwords, banking information or transfer money simply because someone on the phone tells them to do so.
For Nigerians living in Hereford, North Herefordshire and across the UK, protecting older relatives and vulnerable members of the community from fraud is especially important. Many Nigerian families maintain close relationships across generations, and sharing information about scams can help protect parents, grandparents and other relatives from becoming victims. At Chijos News, we are committed to keeping the Nigerian diaspora informed about important developments across the UK, including crime alerts, community safety issues and practical information that can help families protect themselves and their loved ones.