Surge in Fraudulent Calls from Impersonators Claiming to Be Police or Banks
The Yorkshire and Humber Regional Economic Crime Unit is urging the public to remain vigilant following a recent surge in fraudulent phone calls targeting residents in the West Yorkshire area, including those living in and around Leeds.
Over the past few days, a growing number of reports have been received from individuals who were contacted by fraudsters posing as Police Officers or representatives from their Bank. These criminals are using sophisticated tactics to gain trust and manipulate victims into revealing sensitive financial information or withdrawing funds.
Scammers typically initiate contact through an unexpected phone call, claiming to be from your bank or the Police. They may assert:
• A fraudulent transaction has occurred on your account.
• Your bank card is compromised and needs replacing.
• You must assist in a covert investigation by withdrawing cash or purchasing high-value items.
The YHROCU Fraud Protect team would like to remind the public of the following important facts:
The Police or your bank will NEVER:
o Ask for your PIN number or passwords.
o Request that you send your card via courier.
o Instruct you to withdraw or transfer money for an investigation.
Protect Yourself:
• Never share personal information: Even if the caller seems genuine.
• Verify unexpected requests: Hang up and call the organisation back using a verified number (e.g. from your bank statement or official website).
• Be sceptical of urgency: Scammers often create pressure to make you act quickly. Take your time to assess the situation.
Support Your Loved Ones:
Please share this information with parents, grandparents, neighbours, and anyone who may be more vulnerable to these types of scams. A quick conversation could prevent someone you care about from becoming a victim.
People in the UK lost £1.2bn to fraud in 2022, the equivalent of £2,300 every minute, according to bank industry group UK Finance. It said around three million scams took place, with frauds involving payment cards being the most common.
Fraud is when trickery is used to gain a dishonest advantage, which is often financial, over another person. Cybercrime is any criminal act dealing with computers and networks.
To report an incident of cybercrime or fraud and for further information visit the Action Fraud website at www.actionfraud.police.uk.
