A POLICE crackdown on scammers in Shipston on Stour is taking place after a number of calls from fraudsters in recent weeks.

The calls to landlines and mobile phones target elderly people, in a bid to get thousands of pounds.

In one of the calls a woman, claiming to be from BT Outreach on the number 02081 332416, gave a story about the client having a faulty router and asking for hundreds of pounds upfront to fix the issue. The scammers then said they had put an excess of money into homeowners account and wanted payment back of thousands. The scammer then obtained passwords and took control of the homeowners computer. The victim was asked to go to their local bank and place two bank transfers both of more than £8,000 into the scammers bank account. The scammers even tried to get money, later recalling the homeowner the following day and asking for a further £5,000.

The fraudsters use different ways of introducing the scam. In another scam the caller said they were from Talk Talk and the homeowner’s router was broken. The caller said they had in error put money into the homeowners bank account, asking the victim to go the bank and place a large withdrawal for more than £10,000. Victims, over 70-years-old, have also been told by the scammers not to call the police and to tell bank staff that the money is for a relative.

PCSO Emma Turner said: “Unfortunately people are being conned out of large amount of cash, and often life savings. The personal emotive after affect this is having upon these residents is immense, people are often feeling an element of guilt. Its very upsetting to see the affect this has upon often vulnerable people. Advice would be do not enter into a conversation and never give out any personal details." To report scam calls call 101, or 0300 123 2040.

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