Beware Bank Card Scam

Posted on July 25, 2013

Police in Bedfordshire are asking residents to be extra vigilant when giving bank information over the telephone after receiving several reports of a scam.

The two most recent reports were received on July 23 and July 17 after residents in Houghton Regis and Dunstable received telephone calls from bogus police officers telling the victims that their bank details had been cloned.

The offenders told the victims that they were police officers from the Metropolitan Police Force and that they needed to confirm details of the victim's banking details and would call around to their home to collect the original bank cards.

The same or the following day a man posing as a police officer then attended the victim's home and collected the bank cards which were then used fraudulently.

A further four incidents following the same pattern have also been recorded within the last few months and appear to target older residents in the Dunstable and Houghton Regis areas.

Mark Collis, of Bedfordshire Police's Crime Bureau, is keen to warn residents of the scam and urges them not to give bank information to anyone who telephones their home; even if they say they are a police officer.

Mr Collis said: "These offenders are very plausible when they speak to people over the telephone and even give telephone numbers to the victims to check their credentials. I would urge people to contact their local force using 101 to verify the identity of any person telephoning your home and not to hand any bank cards over to anyone calling at your home. You should contact your bank directly if you think your cards have been compromised and never give anyone your pin number or your bank security answers as these will allow them to access your account. If you are at all concerned about telephone calls or callers to your home who ask for your bank details you can always go into your local police station or bank in person and speak to a representative direct to verify what is happening."

Anyone with information relating to these crimes can contact Bedfordshire Police on 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

Alternatively you can contact the independent crime fighting charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.