Lifeline Scams
We heard recently of a Calderdale-resident who has a Lifeline and key safe. She received a phone call from a company calling themselves ‘Medical Health Services’ calling from an 0203 number.
They told her “we are in the process of swapping alarms to a digital please can you provide your details”. That was their opening line. She supplied her name, address, dob, NOK details and key safe code they then proceeded to ask for her bank account details because they require two payments of £35 pounds at which point she panicked and told them they need to speak to her granddaughter.
They rang her back the next day and the granddaughter called them back. When she proceeded to question them and refused to give out any bank details they became quite aggressive in their manner towards her and told that her grandma’s phone line would be disconnected and that they had all her details and knew where she lived.
Police Impersonation Scams
Police impersonation scammers often use scare tactics to enable people to do what they ask. The scammers will try to build up trust by saying they’re from a police force or another place of authority. Sometimes they’ll tell you you’ll be arrested if you don’t go along with what they’re asking you to do. Or they’ll tell you that by doing what they say, you’ll be helping them catch a criminal. Here’s what these police impersonation scams could look like:
The scammers might ask you to help with a police investigation
These scams can often start with someone calling you up, pretending to be the police who are investigating someone at your bank. They’ll sometimes ask you for help to catch the fraudster. They might tell you that your account is at risk and that you need to move money out of your account as soon as possible, so that they can catch the fraudster/scammers
The police will never:
- Ask you to transfer money to a new account to help catch a fraudster at your bank, even if they tell you the account is in your name. If the people on the phone ask you to do this, it’s a scam.
- Phone you to ask for your card PIN or your online banking details, or any personal information. They’ll also never ask you to send money anywhere, for any reason.
- Send someone to your home to collect cash, your PIN, your bank card or your cheque book.
- Ask you to buy anything on your card, and then hand it over to them for safe keeping.
- Threaten you with arrest over the phone for failing to comply with any of the things they’ve asked you to do.
- Call you to say they’re going to arrest you because of overdue HMRC payments or anything similar.
- Rush you into taking action. A genuine organisation, like the police, will always give you the time you might need to make a decision. The scammers might be rushing you to tell them your personal details or to make the bank transfer by repeatedly telling you your account is at risk. They also might say that you could lose all your money if you don’t move it immediately.
What should you do if this happens to you
If you’ve received a call from someone claiming to be from the police asking you to move money, it is a scam. You should hang up immediately.
The police would never call you threatening to arrest you over the phone or to tell you they need your help to catch a fraudster. They’ll never call you asking you to move money out of your bank.
You can find out more by going to https://westyorkshirepolice.