POLICE WARN ELDERLY TO BE AWARE OF TELEPHONE SCAMS – WESTERN AREA


POLICE are warning elderly resident in Dacorum, Watford and Three Rivers to be aware of potential scams which are taking place across the area.

The warning follows a number of calls to police from elderly and vulnerable members of the public who have recently been called and asked for their bank details over the phone.

Fortunately, many of the people who receive these calls do not give their financial information over the phone.

Calls recently received include ones from people pretending to be Hertfordshire Police and asking information about who lives in the property and how secure their property is.

Others claim to be from a bank or financial institution wanting to check their records.

Crime Prevention Officer for Watford, Mike Sibley, said: “We want to warn members of the public to be very wary about cold calls they could get by telephone. A bank or a building society or financial institution will never call you and ask you to verify your details.

“Hertfordshire Police will not call you to ask security questions about your home or the occupants in it. Our advice to people who receive such a phone call would be to hang up immediately if they become suspicious.”

“West Herts Against Crime offer free security advice and help to single parents and those over the age of sixty, disabled or a repeat victim of burglary. You can contact them between 8.30 am and 4pm Monday to Friday.”

November 2009