This in from the police, in their own words. Ed
Officers are warning residents on the Isle Of Wight to remain vigilant following a suspicious incident where fraudsters attempted to obtain cash from an 81 year-old woman in Cowes.
On Thursday, October 8, she received a call from a man claiming to be from ‘the minister of taxes’. He said that she was owed a PPI refund of more than £4,000 and to receive it she needed to pay £220 first. The woman did not hand over any money and reported this to police.
Temporary Inspector Andy Mcdonald , said:
“We want to warn residents that calls such as this are not genuine. Anyone who receives a suspicious call is urged not to give any details to the caller, and to report the matter to the police immediately.”
People are reminded to protect themselves using the following advice:
- Never give out any personal information about your bank account to anybody over the phone.
- If someone calls claiming to be a police officer, ask for their identification number and police force. Hang up the call and advise that you will call them back using the 101 number. A genuine police officer will not mind waiting while you check. Call them back from a different phone if possible or wait at least 10 minutes before making the call.
- If you have given out information which could compromise your bank account security in any way, call your bank up to cancel your cards as soon as possible.
- Never hand over money to someone at the door to be sent off elsewhere.
- If someone comes to your door claiming to be a police officer or staff member, always ask for identification and make a note of their identification number. Ask them to wait while you verify their identity. Close the door and call 101.
Anyone who is concerned about similar incidents should contact police by calling 101. If a crime is in progress, please call 999.
