New information from the City of London Police reveals that courier fraud is disproportionately targeting people over the age of 70.
According to data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, which is run by the City of London Police, the nation’s leading fraud unit, individuals in their 70s and older lost more than £12.6 million to courier fraud last year, accounting for 77% of all stolen funds.
The split of extortion reports made by people matured 70 or above was 37% and 63 percent. Surprisingly, 153 reports were made by people in their 90s, with just one coming from a person over 100.
Between May 2022 and May 2023, people over the age of 70 in the UK filed 1,587 reports of courier fraud. There were 1,847 reports of courier fraud all together.
The Metropolitan, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley, and Hampshire police areas were the most popular, receiving 43% of all victim reports. Courier fraud cost a total of £16.3 million in the previous year.
Reports to Action Fraud, which is also run by the City of London Police, showed that courier fraudsters were targeting retirement communities, care facilities, and buildings that provided assisted living, often the elderly and most vulnerable people in the country.
City of London Police Fraud Operations team member Detective Chief Inspector Lee Parish stated:
“Courier fraud is a devastating crime that targets elderly and vulnerable individuals. Every year, millions of pounds worth of pensions and savings are stolen, and we are focusing our efforts on stopping courier fraud at its source.
“We have observed a growing pattern of courier fraud in and around assisted living facilities, care homes, and retirement communities. We are requesting that caregivers and family members of older people in the UK be on the lookout for incoming calls, particularly from residents, motorbike or taxi-riding couriers, and any unexpected visitors.
“Banks or police officers will never send a courier to individuals to collect cash, bank cards, or pin codes, and we would encourage anyone who believes they are being targeted to report it through Action Fraud and separately to their bank. Always dial 999 if there is a crime taking place right now.”
An intensification period of operational activity was led by the City of London Police to target courier fraudsters. City of London Police facilitated the use of additional resources to scale up both existing and new investigations, which led to the execution of multiple nationwide warrants.
How does courier fraud work?
Courier fraud is a sophisticated con that takes advantage of people’s trust and vulnerability. The perpetrators frequently employ deceitful strategies to trick victims into thinking they are assisting the police or bank employees. Typically, this kind of fraud starts with a phone call or email in which the scammers pretend to be bank employees, police officers, or other authority figures.
Once they get in touch, the con artists use convincing stories to trick their victims, frequently claiming that their bank accounts have been hacked. They will attempt to compel the victims to comply with their demands and instill a sense of urgency in them.
Convincing victims to withdraw large sums of money from their bank accounts is a common tactic used in courier fraud. The con artists tell the victims to put the money in a bag or envelope and give it to a courier who will come to their house to get it.
Dispatch fraudsters have additionally been known to pressure their target victims in to utilizing small taxis and taxi administrations where they are then shipped off goldsmiths to buy high-esteem things. Reports have likewise shown that casualties have been shipped off unfamiliar trade authorities, where they are told to electronically move cash for “for safety’s sake”.
Convincing victims to hand over their bank cards, PIN numbers, or other sensitive information, such as answers to security questions, is another form of courier fraud. The con artists assert that they require these information to confirm the victim’s account’s legitimacy or to aid in their investigation. Remember that the fraudsters gain access to the victims’ funds and are able to carry out unauthorized transactions once the victims disclose this information. This will keep you safe and protect you:
You will never be contacted by your bank or the police to confirm your personal information or PIN. In the event that you get a call requesting that you do this, hang up, stand by a couple of moments and call your bank on a number you know to be certified, like the one on the rear of your card
Your bank or the police won’t ever send a dispatch to your home to gather your money, bank cards, PINs, or some other significant merchandise. Remember that being cautious and skeptical can go a long way toward protecting yourself from courier fraud. Any requests to do so are part of a scam. The police will not contact you out of the blue and ask you to participate in an investigation that requires you to withdraw money from your bank or to purchase high-value goods, such as gold or jewelry. Always verify information, seek advice from reliable sources, and never make financial decisions in a hurry.
Action Fraud can be contacted online at actionfraud.police.uk, by calling 0300 123 2040, or by calling 101 for Police Scotland if you believe you have been a victim of fraud.
