Bank card scammers – warn your elderly relatives

Cheshire Police are urging residents – and to advise any elderly or vulnerable friends and relatives – to be vigilant, after a Wilmslow couple were scammed out of a considerable sum of money.

The elderly couple received a phone call from someone purporting to be a representative of NatWest bank.

They were told their bank account had been compromised and following the instructions given to them they gave their bank cards to a courier – who swapped them for false bank cards. Funds were taken out of their accounts before the pensioners realised they had fallen victim to a scam.

A similar incident occurred when an elderly lady, from Alderley Edge, was called at her home by a man claiming to be from Marks & Spencer bank.

The man told her the bank were issuing new cards and he needed to know her card details and a man later called at her home requesting her old bank cards. Fortunately the lady suspected that something wasn’t right – and refused to hand her cards over.

Both banks have since been informed and inquiries into the incidents are ongoing.

Det Sgt Simon Mills said: “Sadly scams like this are not rare and people throughout the county can be targeted.

“Over-the-phone fraudsters can be very convincing and use a range of tactics to try to convince victims to part with their money. I urge everyone in Cheshire, especially the elderly community, to be vigilant. I want to make it clear that no-one should withdraw or transfer any money from their account if they are asked to do so over the phone, no matter who the person on the other end of the line claims to be.”

The force’s advice to prevent yourself from falling victim to such scams is as follows.

Be wary of any calls, texts or emails purporting to be from the police or anyone else 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 do not reply and then report it to police on 101, Action Fraud and your bank on its advertised number

DS Mills added: “If you have elderly relatives or neighbours please ensure they are aware of such scams and that you do everything you can to safeguard them and their savings.”

Anyone with any information about the fraud in Chester should call Cheshire Constabulary on 101, quoting IML 363403, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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