Bank fraudster claiming to be a Detective is targeting Flintshire residents

North Wales Police are warning the public to be wary and alert to a particular fraud that is instigated by an unsolicited telephone call.

Victims in Flintshire have been receiving telephone calls from a man with a London accent purporting to be a Detective Chief Inspector reporting that there has been suspicious activity on their bank account which the police are investigating.

The caller knows that this is false and then advises the victim to withdraw significant amounts of money. Once withdrawn the caller arranges to meet the victim in order to place the withdrawn money in a safe place.

Some victims have withdrawn thousands of pounds from their current accounts and handed the money over to the offenders. Enquiries are currently on-going.

Detective Inspector Jonathan Salisbury-Jones of Flintshire CID gives the following advice:

• If you receive a telephone call from someone asking you to withdraw money from your accounts, end the call immediately and report the incident to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at www.actionfraud.police.uk.
• Do not give personal details including banking details to anyone you do not know following unexpected requests for money made either in the street, on the doorstep, over the telephone or internet as these details can be used to steal your identity.
• Beware of cold calls even when the caller appears to have personal information such as your address or bank account details.  Legitimate callers will never be offended if you ask to call back in order to confirm their identity.  When doing so always use a phone number that you have obtained from previous correspondence or an independent source such as phone book or an official website.
• If you want to call your bank, then do so from another telephone or visit your local branch.
• If you have lost money call your local police on 101.
• We would encourage the public to use social networking to get this message out to as wide an audience as possible .The more people who know about it the less chance there is of them becoming a victim.