Worker prevents fraudsters taking £5K from pensioner - The Leamington Observer

Worker prevents fraudsters taking £5K from pensioner

Leamington Editorial 1st May, 2015 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

A QUICK-THINKING bank worker stopped fraudsters in their tracks after an elderly woman from Radford Semele was targeted.

Two men visited the 76-year-old woman at her home on Wednesday (April 22) claiming to be from the Metropolitan Police.

They told her bank cards had been used fraudulently, persuaded her to hand them over, and then used the cards to withdraw money in Luton before returning them.

The pair then told the victim her money was not safe in her current bank account and advised her to transfer it to a safe account through them.




The fraudsters advised the pensioner to call them once she had £5,000 in cash at which point they would collect it from her.

But the scam was foiled after a quick-thinking bank worker became suspicious when the woman requested to move a substantial amount of cash from one account to another, and then withdraw £5,000 shortly afterwards.


The worker contacted the police and two men – aged 36 from Luton and aged 39 from Dunstable – were arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation. They have since been released on bail until Monday June 1 while further inquires are carried out.

But police are urging residents to be on their guard in the wake of the scam.

They are also reminding people that banks or police would never ask for people to hand over their PIN, or come to their property to collect cards or cash.

Sgt Allison Wiggin said: “There have been a number of incidents in which fraudsters have attempted to obtain bank details over the phone, and in this case, attended the victim’s address so please make sure your elderly friends and relatives are aware of this scam.”

Visit the Warwickshire Police website for further safety advice.

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