Man arrested in courier fraud investigation

Yesterday (Tuesday 7 July), officers arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of fraud as part of an ongoing investigation into a courier fraud offence. The suspect is believed to have targeted elderly or vulnerable individuals by posing as a police officer or bank official over the phone.

The incident began in September last year when an elderly woman was contacted by someone claiming to be a bank official. The caller claimed to be investigating fraudulent activity on her bank card and requested that a courier collect the card. The card was subsequently used to make unauthorized purchases.

The investigation was initially handled by Thames Valley Police before being transferred to Leicestershire Police when it was determined that the suspect may be residing in the area. PC Clifford from the force’s Specialist Crime Unit led the investigation and stated: "Following extensive enquiries, we executed a warrant at two addresses in East Leicester and arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of fraud. He has subsequently been released on bail pending further enquiries."

PC Clifford emphasized the seriousness of this type of offence, warning that suspects often target vulnerable individuals who may be more susceptible to manipulation. She advised: "The police or banks would not contact people in this way. If you get a call like this, hang up. Don’t be pressured into agreeing to anything. Discuss the call and any requests made of you with a family member or trusted friend, even if the person on the phone tells you not to."

She also recommended that people verify calls directly with their bank using known official numbers and avoid handing over bank cards to anyone claiming to be from the bank or police. "Your bank cards are yours, and neither the banks nor the police would ask you to hand them to somebody for safekeeping," she added.

PC Clifford urged the public to remain vigilant, especially when it comes to elderly neighbours or relatives who may not access online resources. She also highlighted the importance of call blocking technology provided by telephone companies to help prevent such incidents.

"At times, fraudsters use local taxi firms to collect bank cards or transport potential victims to their banks," she said. "We would ask taxi companies to be mindful of this and if they have any suspicions to contact the police immediately."

For further advice on how to protect against courier fraud, people can visit the Report Fraud website: https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/.