Bogus police officers caught trying to con £44,000 out of Nuneaton OAP
They were stopped in their tracks
Updated 12:26, 3 JAN 2022
Bogus cops tried to con £44,000 out of a Nuneaton OAP (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)
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Fraudsters tried to con £44,000 from an OAP in Nuneaton by pretending to be police officers.
Officers from Warwickshire Police Economic Crime Unit (ECU) managed to stop them before they stole the cash.
The ECU said that suspicions were aroused after information emerged about the movement of the large sum of money into a Nuneaton bank account.
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Further investigations uncovered that the funds had fraudulently been taken by criminals impersonating police officers.
Fortunately, they managed to stop the transaction and the money was returned to the victim by the bank.
No arrests have been made but investigations are ongoing to catch those who tried to scam the elderly person, who has not been identified.
Inspector Simon Mason from the unit explained: "Thankfully this scam was detected by one of our team in time for the bank to intervene in the transaction. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend the fraudsters."
'Unscrupulous criminals'
Insp Mason added: "Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous criminals who will continually seek to exploit the vulnerable for their own financial gain. Upon finding a victim, all too often they will make further attempts to steal more from them. Safeguarding measures are available to protect people at risk and have been put in place in this instance.
"Obviously it is not only vulnerable people who are at risk – economic fraud it is often a very sophisticated crime and anyone can find themselves a victim.
"We would like to remind our communities to be on their guard and to make themselves aware of various fraud methods that are commonly used and the precautionary and preventative measures that can be taken."
Those who receive a call from someone purporting to be a police officer, asking them to withdraw or transfer money, should call Warwickshire Police on 101.
Anyone who has been a victim of a scam should report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
For advice on scams, contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
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