Telephone bank account fraud – Police issue warning

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

Victims in South Gwynedd have been receiving telephone calls from a woman with a Scottish accent purporting to be a bank employee asking whether there has been suspicious activity on their bank account, which amounts to several hundred pounds in transactions to various outlets.

The caller knows that this is false and then advises the victim to set up a new account via telephone and transfer funds.

The caller proceeds to give a new account number and bank sort code over the telephone and the victims have then completed the transfer on-line.

Investigator Maldwyn Roberts explained:

“Some people have transferred thousands of pounds from their current accounts into the new active accounts.”

 Police enquiries are ongoing and the following advice is being given:

• If you receive a telephone call from someone asking to arrange transfer of funds into a new account, end the call immediately and report the incident to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online atwww.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.