ELDERLY LADY FALLS VICTIM TO BOGUS CALLER FRAUD

[Kintyre Forum News]

From the Dunoon Observer at http://www.dunoon-observer.com/index.ph ... tid=1:news

ELDERLY LADY FALLS VICTIM TO BOGUS CALLER FRAUD
Written by Aileen MacNicol
Wednesday, 07 December 2011 17:20

AN ELDERLY LADY in Campbeltown has lost thousands of pounds in an elaborate bogus call scam.

The woman was defrauded of £4,030 after receiving a call from a man claiming to be a police officer.
He informed her that someone had been arrested and had been found with her debit card card.
He then told her that he was investigating and that someone from her bank would call her shortly to discuss the matter.
A few minutes later, another man claiming to be from the bank called and was able to quote details of her account numbers and other banking details before advising that he would call back the next day.
On the following day, the victim was informed by telephone that the case had been passed to her local Strathclyde police office which would investigate.
She then received a further call, again from a man purporting to be a police officer, who told her that in order to ensure that the money in her account remains safe she should transfer all her money to a ‘secure police holding account’.
The elderly lady was then given an account number and sort code to transfer her money, and told that she would be kept informed about the investigation’s progress.
By now convinced that the calls must are genuine, the victim went to her local bank and transferred the money to the account given, believing that this would keep her money safe.
There was, however, no follow-up call from the police to provide a progress update, which led the lady to contact the police direct where she found out she had been the victim of an intricate scam.
Kintyre area commander Chief Inspector Marlene Baillie said: “This is a disgraceful and elaborate fraud which has been used to target vulnerable members of our communities.
“We are carrying out extensive inquires into this fraud and are determined to bring the people responsible to justice.
“I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that neither Strathclyde Police nor any other police force would ask anyone for money or have anything to do, in any way, with transferring funds to other accounts.
“Please be very careful when someone calls you claiming to be from your bank. If you have any doubts at all, please hang up and call the bank back on their official number - never on a number anyone gives to you.”
Chief Inspector Baillie continued: “Bank staff will never contact customers, or ask anyone else to do so on their behalf, with a request for customers to disclose security details in full.
“If you receive a request like this from anyone (even if they are using the bank’s name and logo and appear to be genuine) it is likely they are fraudulent. Customers should report this to their bank immediately.”
Police are also appealing to members of the public for any information which may help them to track down the fraudsters behind the Campbeltown scam.
“Finally, if anyone has any information which can help with this particular inquiry I would ask them to contact Campbeltown Police Office on 01586 862200,” said Chief Inspector Baillie.
“Alternatively CRIMESTOPPERS can be contacted on 0800 555 111, if you wish to remain anonymous.”

[mrn]

This is shocking! Sad to think anyone can do that to anyone let alone the elderly!

[katya]

Oh that's just horrible. Hopefully the word will get around so those targeted may be aware of the scam already.

[Tom B]

Given how hard it is to open a legitimate bank account these days, passport etc - not sure why the bank can't identify whose bank account the money was transferred in to, and what ID they gave when they opened the account. I think these guys will get caught - and quite right to. Aren't the bank required to "know their customers" and therefore should be liable if they don't, and can't trace the account holder? Still a horrible experience for the person involved.

[EMDEE]

Given how hard it is to open a legitimate bank account these days, passport etc - not sure why the bank can't identify whose bank account the money was transferred in to, and what ID they gave when they opened the account. I think these guys will get caught - and quite right to. Aren't the bank required to "know their customers" and therefore should be liable if they don't, and can't trace the account holder? Still a horrible experience for the person involved.

Exactly my own thoughts. There must be a trail to be followed here and find the scum responsible.

[maxmix]

Sad world where we live in nowadays...

If anyone is approached like this, they should contact their bank straight away or call their local Police station...

When the bogus account was opened by the fraudsters, either with someones stolen identity or fradulent documentation, you would think CCTV could help here... If the account had been opened online, i'm not so sure...

Still not sure how the Bank should be held accountable, after the transfer had been made etc, I've had a few customers who have given their details over the phone to bogus callers, or have given Bank details online to crooks, that have had nothing returned...

If your answering the door to anyone or answering calls on the phone / emails etc and you have any doubts at all, it's certainly worth calling the Police ASAP...

It's a bad place out there now....

maxmix

[Tom B]

Still not sure how the Bank should be held accountable,

I think it might be money laundering regulations...