Bank card scam still alive and kicking

[mosy]

Be warned and please spread especially to any vulnerable peeps. Details here: http://www.moneywise.co.uk/scams-rip-of ... -top-scams

A friend on another forum said it'd been tried on her yesterday (in the Met area) but that she wasn't convinced that she was indeed talking to a DCI from the Met, as claimed. It says 2,229 victims were caught out by the authoritative sounding "Met police" caller in two years.

Apparently friend's caller claimed to be DCI Meadows. The real police told her he's a named character in The Bill who presumably exudes reliability so could be psychologically inspiring (unwarranted) confidence.

[stuart]

I think I had one of these calls a month or so ago. He only got part way through his script when I guess he detected I wasn't buying it. Though when I rang the police to enquire about it they were quite clueless.

Stuart

[bensonby]

There is a new centralised reporting system of fraud which is nationwide thing. The idea being that reports are properly joined-up as frauds like these don't respect police force boundaries:

http://www.actionfraud.police.uk

[mosy]

If it's not a stupid question(s), how does reporting it after event help prevent it? and as the police say that the most vulnerable are oldies who aren't online (so wouldn't necessarily read of scams), surely they wouldn't even know of the reporting site?

Quite how the police/fraud squad can prevent them is beyond me as even if they could "Put an immediate trace!" on an open line like TV programmes, surely the call would be internationally routed so untraceable anyway? Ditto money nicked would presumably be routed offshore in seconds.

This isn't a criticism by any means of the police/fraud squad - just wondering what the heck they can do in real terms to prevent and hopefully catch the con-men.

[bensonby]

With regards to the online reporting it is a means to join-up where/when these things are happening. They are still investigated by police officers. The police will still physically attend if there is a need to - if the victim is especially vulnerable for example, there are suspects on scene etc.

With regards to prevention raising awareness of scams is the most important and effective tool - so that people know that certain things are scams. I know in Lewisham, at least, vulnerable victims are reactively visited and given tips and pointers about how not to become victs again. Also potential victims are proactively visited/spoken to through various community groups, at meetings, and if concerns are raised etc.

Literature like this very good book is handed out: http://www.met.police.uk/docs/little_book_scam.pdf

For the most vulnerable and repeat victims the council has a stock of devices that can be fitted to people's phones that can screen & block all calls from "non trusted" sources. These are lent out free of charge but they can also be privately bought: the name of the device escapese at the moment though unfortunately.

[mosy]

Thank you for the helpful information bensonby, which I'm happy to pass-on and hopefully other readers will too.