Cold Calls Alert

Thames Valley Police have issued the following alert, reminding people to be on their guard when receiving cold telephone calls. This warning follows greater activity by fraudsters and the inclination that many individuals have to engage in detailed conversations that they would not entertain if some unknown person called at their front door and asked similar questions.

Fraudsters are targeting people by "cold calling" them on the telephone.

The scam starts with the following simple activity:

1. They will state that they are from the Bank Fraud department, the Police or other Law Enforcement.

2. They will tell the victim that fraud is being carried out on the victim's bank account and that to prevent it they need to carry out any of the below activities:

• Need to access your bank accounts online.
• Need to hand over your pin numbers and bank cards to a courier/official sent to collect them.
• Need to hand over money to a courier/ official sent to collect them.
• Need to transfer your money to another "safe" bank account(s) for which they provide details

3. In order to prove their own credentials they will often ask you to telephone the "fraud" number you may have on the back of your bank card, or they may even ask you to telephone the Police to check that there is an official investigation, or telephone your own bank once the phone call to them is terminated.

Do not be fooled!
Do not telephone anyone at that stage as the phone line remains open and you are simply telephoning them back without realising. They will then continue with your assistance in stealing your money by any of the above methods.

Protect Yourself
The bank or the police will never telephone you "out of the blue" to ask you to transfer money into another account or hand over any of your money or bank cards. It is your money!!

The bank or the police will never ask for your personal bank account details, or pin numbers over the phone.

If you really want to check the credentials of a caller then go into your bank and ask to speak to the bank manager or use another phone to call the bank or police.

If you are still unsure then attend a police station.

Never discuss your banking details with strangers who call you!