Wiltshire Police have issued a county-wide warning following a spate of banking and courier fraud.
Such frauds often involve a criminal telephoning or emailing a victim, claiming to be bank employees or officials and saying there is an irregularity relating to their account.
Victims may be tricked into transferring money into the criminals' accounts, and the fraudsters sometimes send a courier - who is part of the scam - to their home to take cards.
Recent incidents have included one in which a Devizes woman in her 80s was convinced to transfer more than £50,000, and criminals have targeted other people in the Devizes and Marlborough areas.
In other crimes, fraudsters have posed as police officers and convinced their victims to withdraw thousands of pounds from their bank accounts and arrange for it to be collected by couriers.
PC Sue Ellway said: "Sadly, these scams are very sophisticated and it is very easy for people to be duped by them.
"Usually, the criminals pose as either police officers or bank employees and convince their victims that they are at risk of fraud, and that they need to follow their instructions to protect their money.
"We are urging people to be cautious, and to speak to elderly or vulnerable family members, friends and neighbours, so that everyone knows the simple steps they can take to keep themselves safe."
Crime prevention advice from the force includes:
- If you receive a call from anybody purporting to be from the police, bank, or any organisation you did not call, take a telephone number and then put the phone down.
- Go and make a cup of tea or do something for five minutes - this stops any fraudster from keeping your phone line open - and then call a trusted friend, relative or Wiltshire Police on 101 and tell them what has happened.
- Never transfer money or give the caller access to your banking details or cards. The bank or police would never ask you to do this.
Further details about courier fraud can be found on the Action Fraud website - https://crowd.in/vWZBXt
Victims may be tricked into transferring money into the criminals' accounts, and the fraudsters sometimes send a courier - who is part of the scam - to their home to take cards.
Recent incidents have included one in which a Devizes woman in her 80s was convinced to transfer more than £50,000, and criminals have targeted other people in the Devizes and Marlborough areas.
In other crimes, fraudsters have posed as police officers and convinced their victims to withdraw thousands of pounds from their bank accounts and arrange for it to be collected by couriers.
PC Sue Ellway said: "Sadly, these scams are very sophisticated and it is very easy for people to be duped by them.
"Usually, the criminals pose as either police officers or bank employees and convince their victims that they are at risk of fraud, and that they need to follow their instructions to protect their money.
"We are urging people to be cautious, and to speak to elderly or vulnerable family members, friends and neighbours, so that everyone knows the simple steps they can take to keep themselves safe."
Crime prevention advice from the force includes:
- If you receive a call from anybody purporting to be from the police, bank, or any organisation you did not call, take a telephone number and then put the phone down.
- Go and make a cup of tea or do something for five minutes - this stops any fraudster from keeping your phone line open - and then call a trusted friend, relative or Wiltshire Police on 101 and tell them what has happened.
- Never transfer money or give the caller access to your banking details or cards. The bank or police would never ask you to do this.
Further details about courier fraud can be found on the Action Fraud website - https://crowd.in/vWZBXt
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