Warning issued as ‘despicable’ fraudsters demand money by impersonating police and HMRC

Warning issued as ‘despicable’ fraudsters demand money by impersonating police and HMRC

South Wales Police is reminding people that government officials, law enforcement agencies and banks will never contact them out of the blue and demand payment, the withdrawal or transfer of money, the purchase of iTunes or other gift cards, or threaten arrest over unpaid fines or tax.

Police have received a large number of reports in recent days of fraudsters impersonating police officers, HMRC officials and businesses, and are warning people to remain vigilant.

Cold-hearted fraudsters are contacting people in an attempt to exploit them into handing over cash, transferring bank funds or providing them with gift voucher codes.

In the last week, areas including Cardiff, Barry, Bridgend and Pontypridd have been particularly affected – although investigators are warning everyone, wherever they live, to be vigilant.

The scams may take a variety of forms, but one that has been particularly prevalent in recent days is a phone call purportedly from HMRC in which the victim is told they will be arrested for unpaid taxes unless they transfer money to a given account, or purchase gift vouchers which they claim can double as “Government vouchers”.

In other cases, fraudsters claiming to be police officers are contacting people and claiming the victim’s bank is being investigated for money laundering. The victim is asked to withdraw supposedly counterfeit cash, and a bogus police courier then arranges to collect the notes and promises a refund – which never arrives.

Some examples reported to South Wales Police in the last seven days include:

Cardiff

• A man, 85, from Llandaff, was told by a caller purporting to be from HMRC that he had underpaid tax, and would be taken into custody for 24 hours. He was told he had to make a four-figure payment that day.
• A 91-year-old man from Pentwyn was told he was going to be summonsed and was told to ring back a number provided to him.
• A 71-year-old woman from Roath received a call from a man pretending to be a detective from a card fraud department, who said there were problems with her account and she would need to withdraw two sets of £5,000.
• A shop in Cardiff reported a distressed woman who had been contacted by someone pretending to be from immigration enforcement to say she would be deported unless she bought and sent off iTunes vouchers to the fraudsters.
• A woman, 64, from Whitchurch, was told to buy Argos vouchers to hand over to a fraudster purporting to be from HMRC and saying they could be used as ‘Government vouchers’.

Bridgend / Vale of Glamorgan

• A woman in her 70s from Bridgend was told to pay almost £50,000. When she said she did not have the money, the caller threatened her with arrest.
• A 79-year-old woman from Bridgend received a call demanding £2,000 in unpaid tax dating back more than half a century.
• A man in his 60s from Llantwit Major was left a voicemail claiming he would be prosecuted for defrauding HMRC if he did not pay money owed. After calling back he was told he owed £4,000, which he transferred to an account whose details he had been provided with.
• On Thursday, August 24, South Wales Police received calls from at least a dozen different victims in Barry and Penarth of attempted frauds. In each of these cases, the victim had been contacted by a fraudster pretending to be from HMRC and threatening the victim with arrest unless they paid money supposedly owed.

Rhondda Cynon Taf / Merthyr Tydfil

• A 62-year-old woman from Aberdare received a call purporting to be from South Wales Police saying she would be arrested for missed HMRC payments, and to phone a number back.
• A 59-year-old woman from Merthyr Tydfil received a call which claimed there was a complaint against her from HMRC and there was a warrant out for her arrest, with an apparent warrant reference number provided.
• A woman from Tonyrefail in her mid-80s had a call stating she was wanted on warrant for non-payment of fines.
• A 79-year-old woman from Pontypridd received a call which she was told was the police, saying she was going to be arrested.

Swansea / Neath Port Talbot

• A man, 43, from Swansea, was told he owed almost £1,000 to HMRC and that police officers in London had a warrant for his arrest.
• An 82-year-old man from Swansea was told he owed £4,000 to HMRC in unpaid taxes dating back almost a decade.
• A man in his 70s from Margam was left a voicemail purportedly from HMRC, telling him a lawsuit had been filed against him.

Assistant Chief Constable Jon Drake said: “Over the past few weeks there have been a number of cases where fraudsters have contacted often elderly people across South Wales.

“These calls are distressing to those who are targeted, whether they lose money or not, and we are working with partners across the UK to stamp this out and bring these despicable offenders to justice.

“We’d urge everyone to remember that the police, banks or HMRC would never contact you and ask for money in these circumstances – these are scams.

“These fraudsters are manipulative, calculating and operate extremely professionally, and it is understandable that victims may believe these calls to be genuine.

“However, we’d urge everyone to remember the above advice – and to report instances where these attempts have failed, too, as this will help the investigation into those perpetrating these scams.

“Please also pass this message on to parents, grandparents, other loved ones, friends and neighbours, so we can raise awareness of these appalling offences and the cruel people carrying them out.”

ENDS

Notes:

Link to a downloadable version of a social media video recorded by Assistant Chief Constable Jon Drake: https://adobe.ly/2wrHacm

Officers have issued the following advice to anyone who falls victim.

Do:

• Obtain details of caller – including name, rank, collar number and station if they claim to be police officers
• Note any contact details from caller display or via 1471 after the call has concluded
• Terminate the call advising you will contact the force control room directly to confirm their identity and be put through to them internally
• Ring a family member first to ensure the line has disconnected from the initial caller
• If anyone calls at your address following on from this communication, call 999.

Don’t:

• Provide any details of bank cards, account numbers, financial circumstances or personal details
• Agree to make purchases or obtain funds from accounts to hand over to couriers
• Hand over your bank cards or account paperwork.