Malvern addresses targeted by fake police officers in bank card scam - The Malvern Observer

Malvern addresses targeted by fake police officers in bank card scam

Malvern Editorial 21st Jan, 2015 Updated: 20th Oct, 2016   0

MONEY has been stolen from residents’ bank accounts following a spate of ‘courier thefts’ from fraudsters posing as police officers.

Six rural addresses in Malvern were targeted within 24 hours of each other over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, January 10 and 11.

The scam involves a man calling residents on the phone claiming to be a police officer. Victims have recently reported receiving calls from someone claiming to be a Detective Constable or Sergeant Thomas from the Metropolitan Police based at Holborn Station.

The bogus officer tells residents their bank details have been cloned and urges them to contact their bank.




He then holds the line open so worried victims thinking they are contacting their bank are actually still talking to the same man or an accomplice while they disclose valuable details such as PIN codes.

The fraudster then arranges for a ‘courier’ to come by and collect the relevant bank cards. While some residents have been vigilant enough to end the calls, some have fell victim and unknowingly provided their cards and details only for money to be withdrawn from their accounts later on.


Out of the incidents in Malvern the first took place at 6pm on the Saturday at The Greenway, Powick, followed by homes targeted in Lower Broadheath at Hallow Lane, Jacomb Close and Peachley Gardens between 7.20pm and 8.30pm.

The next day a resident living at Wheatfields Park, Callow End, also fell victim about 6pm followed by another person at Bowling Green Road, Powick, at 8pm.

In one of the thefts a courier was an Asian man, in his mid-twenties, of average height and build, with black wavy hair and dressed in a fluorescent jacket.

Police have once again stressed they will never request bank details over the phone and warned residents to hang-up on any suspicious callers.

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or pass details anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111.

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