Tag: surrey police

Surrey Police Operation Signature

Operation Signature is the Surrey Police campaign to identify and support vulnerable victims of fraud.

Fraud is becoming more complex and deceptive, much of which is targeted at vulnerable and elderly people.

Statistics show that one in five people fall victim to fraud every year and nearly 50 per cent of all adults have been targeted by fraudsters. That shows how common theses scams and how many people fall for their tricks.

Key things to remember

  • Never send or give money to anyone you don’t know or trust.
  • Check people are who they say they are.
  • Don’t share your personal information.
  • Make decisions in your own time – do not be pressurised into a quick response
  • If in doubt phone a relative or a friend for advice.
  • Do not trust anyone who cold calls you about your bank account or a problem with your computer.

Under no circumstances would your bank or police request a card PIN or security details over the telephone, or arrange collection of your bank cards from your home.

Surrey Police have a process for recognising victims of all fraud as victims of crime and providing preventative measures to support and protect them from further targeting. This can include:

  • helping them to change their phone number to an ex-directory number
  • contacting family to suggest power of attorney
  • mail re-direction
  • offering them advice on call blocking devices
  • referring them to other support services

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Surrey Police Stop Phone Scammer

Brandon Hurst of Hounslow, posed as a bank fraud investigator and scammed two ladies 88 and 70, out of just under £6,000.

He was caught and has been sentenced to 6 months imprisonment, suspended for two years and has to do community service and pay back nearly £6,000.

He phoned his victims and claimed to be calling from bank fraud investigation departments of Barclays or Santander.

He told them there had been fraudulent activity on their accounts and convinced them to return their bank cards to the bank. He got them to provide their PIN number as well.

To convince them he was calling from the bank he used the stay on the line trick. He told them to check the bank’s fraud number and call it but he stayed on the line and the victims were just talking to him again.

He arranged for a courier to collect the cards and the victims believed the cards would be taken back to the bank but they went to Hurst instead where he could then spend on the cards.

If you get any suspicious callers claiming to be from your bank then use a separate phone to call the bank to check and do not do as requested unless you are totally sure the caller is from your bank. Some scammers may already have some of your information such as the account number so do not be fooled by this.

Let’s hope the prison sentence can teach this man to pursue a life that doesn’t prey on vulnerable people.

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