In a concerning turn of events, local police are alerting residents about a phone scam that’s been wreaking havoc in the community. Fraudsters are calling people, pretending to be police officers, which resulted in victims losing large sums of money.
According to Devon and Cornwall Police, there have been at least 12 reports in a short span of just two weeks, with one elderly individual falling victim to a staggering £14,000 scam.
The way these scammers operate is particularly tricky. They claim to be “helping” with an investigation and then ask their targets to withdraw substantial amounts from ATMs.
Areas affected include Exeter, Exmouth, Sidbury, Plymouth, Bradninch, and Heybrook Bay, with incidents recorded from July 2 to July 18.
Sgt Tona Pooley addressed the issue, stating, “The victims are never at fault here. These scammers have a knack for being very convincing and pushy, and unfortunately, this has caused big financial losses for some people.”
They also urged anyone who has encountered this type of scam or something similar to report it promptly to either the police or Action Fraud. “Your information is crucial in helping us track down the individuals behind these scams,” Sgt Pooley added.
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