Police in the Vale of Glamorgan are reminding people of the need to remain vigilant when dealing with unsolicited telephone calls.
The reminder follows an incident when a member of the public has answered a call from someone purporting to be from BT saying they need to protect their computer from being hacked.
This was followed by a call from someone alleging they came from the National Crime Agency alleging their bank account had been involved in a money laundering scam and that they should transfer funds to a secure account.
As a result the victim in this incident transferred several thousand pounds into what she thought was a safe account, which was actually set up by the fraudsters.
Police sergeant Bryn Powys said: “This is a very distressing incident for the victim.
“Legitimate organisations such as your bank, HMRC or police will never call you asking you to transfer money. Neither will they ask you for your pin or full banking password.
“Our advice is to treat all unsolicited calls with caution.
“Never feel pressurised into making a quick decision – a genuine organisation won’t mind giving you time to stop and think.
“We also urge you to look out for your loved ones and make your elderly neighbours – who might not use social media – aware.
If you have received any suspicious calls you can report it on 101 or Action Fraud 0300 123 2040.
Top tips:
- Banks, police and HMRC will never ask for personal details, bank details, or for you to withdraw money from your account
- If something seems too good to be true, it probably is
- Never tell anyone your PIN, and never enter it into a telephone
- Do not feel pressurised into making a quick decision. A genuine organisation won’t mind giving you time to stop and think
- If in doubt, call someone you know personally for advice
- Never click on links included in emails from unknown senders
- Report any suspicions to Action Fraud, or ring 101
- Keep a look out for loved ones. If they receive a lot of post, if their phone is often ringing, if they are secretive about their finances, report your suspicions
For more information go to https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
