Courier scams UK - Bank scam calls
Courier scams UK - A victim being tricked into handing over their bank card to a fraudster.
There has been a rise in courier scams in the UK. Courier fraud is when criminals contact you via telephone pretending to be a police officer or bank official. They will trick their victims into believing they are genuine by providing information that they obtained before the call. Unbeknown to their victims, this information is extremely easy to get hold of such as their full name or home address.
The criminal(s) might state the full name of the victim and ask them to confirm if this is correct. They might also state the full address. This will leave their victims believing they are real as most people assume they can't possibly know this information about them. However, a criminal can get this information from various sources such as:
The victim’s social media.
Letters containing the victim’s full name and address.
Data breaches from companies such as Equifax and EasyJet, leading to personal data being available to buy on the dark web.
Cybercriminals can buy their victim’s information from the dark web if a company that they have given their details to, has been the victim of a cyber-attack. Often cybercriminals will obtain customer/staff data and sell it to others on the dark web.
There are many more ways a criminal can get hold of these details. This is why it's important to share limited information about yourself, as well as be careful with disposing of letters.
Criminals using courier scams in the UK will then use persuasive and emotive language to trick their victims into withdrawing money from their banks. They will typically tell their victim to take out a large amount of money so that it can be collected by a member of their team, also known as an 'agent.'
They might even target businesses knowing they have the money to hand over. They can make business owners feel pressured. The call might seem believable because the criminals will have researched everything to do with the company before calling up. When they recite this information over the phone, a business owner might be surprised at how much they know about their business, but this is all part of the scam.
What are the signs of courier scams in the UK?
Courier scams can present themselves in various forms. This can include:
Someone pretending to be a police officer. They will ask you to co-operate in an investigation by withdrawing money or handing over your bank card with your pin. Criminals will persuade you into doing this by having you believe you are helping to solve a crime. They will then tell you that you will receive this back once this investigation is over.
They might also ask you to purchase an expensive item to help in their investigation. That you'll need to hand it over to a courier so they can examine it and make sure it's what they are asking for. Criminals will tell you that once the investigation is complete, they'll hand it straight back or reimburse you.
Criminals might even call a business and ask them to hand money over to help. Criminals will know all businesses have money, making them their biggest target.
Criminals might ring a business and ask them to hand over some of their supplies to help with an investigation. For example, if a business sells laptops, the criminals could ask them to hand a few over to help. However, the business will never see these items again.
The person pretending to be a police officer might say that their bank has been receiving counterfeit notes. The bank is therefore committing fraud and the victim’s money isn't safe. They will tell you to withdraw this money from your account to hand it over to a police officer or courier.
Most courier scams in the UK will have you believe you are helping the police. You will feel swept up and excited to help. Chances are, if you've fallen for this scam, they'll attempt to target you again.
How do I protect myself against a courier scam?
With an increase in courier scams in the UK, you must protect yourself. Remaining alert to what the caller is asking can help you prevent falling victim to this. For example:
Police officers or other law enforcement will never ask you to hand money or bank details over. Whether you're a business owner or a member of the public, you should never be asked for this kind of information. If a police officer is conducting an investigation, they will already have all the resources that they need.
Ask yourself, why would a police officer or law enforcement officer be asking me to buy this item for their investigation?
Remember, if you're a business owner, a police officer would never expect you to part with your money or supplies to help in their investigation.
If you receive a call and they advise you that your bank has been dealing with fraud, you're best to hang up and contact your bank using the number you usually use.
If you receive a call from a police officer in general, ask them for their unique collar number. Every police officer or community support officer has one. Once you've done this, call the police department and get them to confirm the number you have been given. It's always important to do your research and advise the police if you believe someone is impersonating them.
What should I do if I’m the victim of courier fraud in the UK?
If you believe you are the victim of courier fraud, you should:
Contact your bank and advise them that you believe you have fallen for a scam. This way, if you've handed your card over, they may be able to cancel it. They can also advise you on whether you can get any stolen money back.
If you believe someone is impersonating a police officer, ask them to confirm their unique collar number, as well as the department they work in, and contact that station. This way you can make genuine police officers aware so they can alert others through the likes of their social media.
Contact Action Fraud. This way an investigation can be conducted. Even if you haven't fallen for courier fraud, you should still inform Action Fraud so they can do everything they can to prevent those who are more vulnerable from falling for these scams.