Con artists almost tricked a 78-year-old woman into parceling up her credit cards and pin numbers and handing them over on her own Stretford doorstep.
The elderly victim received a phone call on June 3 from a man claiming to be an officer from Hammersmith police, who told her someone had been arrested after spending money in a London store using her details.
The woman rang the number on the back of her card and got through to a man who then asked for her PIN number, saying he would cancel her cards before she called the phony ‘detective’ back.
She was told to put her cards in an envelope to hand over to someone who would be coming in a taxi to collect them and was also advised not to mention anything to the courier or her son for security reasons.
However, the incident was reported to the police after the woman told her son and luckily no money was stolen.
Police Constable Jon Darwent, based at Stretford Police Station, said: “There have been a number of incidents involving similar phone calls across Greater Manchester and we want to make the public aware of this scam.
“Police would never send a taxi to your home address to collect personal documents including credit cards and you should never give your PIN numbers to anyone.
“If you are called by someone claiming to be a police officer and you are concerned or suspicious, take their details including name and collar number and call police on 101 to verify their details.
“If you believe your credit card has been cloned or stolen, call your bank straight away.”
Anyone with information should phone police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Picture courtesy of Images of Money, with thanks.
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