Kent victims lost over half a million to courier fraudsters last year

Telephone scammers posing as police officers or bank staff tricked Kent victims out of more than half a million pounds last year.

Courier fraud occurs when a criminal arranges for someone to withdraw large sums of money or purchase expensive items such as gold or jewellery on their behalf, usually after convincing them it needs to be seized as part of an ongoing police investigation.

A courier then travels to an agreed meeting place to collect the money or valuables.

Kent Police is supporting a national campaign launched this week by City of London Police to raise awareness of the crime, which caused 63 victims in Kent to lose a total of £515,000 in 2024/25.

Each person lost around £8,200 on average whilst many others reported being targeted but refused to hand over any of their savings.

Target

Detective Inspector David Godfrey of Kent Police said:

‘Fraudsters use every trick in the book to make money that does not belong to them and they frequently target people who are elderly or vulnerable in other ways. ‘Only last week a victim from the Sevenoaks area lost around £25,000 after being contacted by someone pretending to be a police officer, who instructed them to withdraw money for safekeeping as they believed their bank had been infiltrated by criminals. Similar scams were also attempted on people living in Ashford, Longfield, Maidstone and Sheppey without success. ‘We investigate all incidents reported to us based on the evidence available and always seek to make arrests and bring charges against those responsible whenever possible. However the best way to hurt the scammers is to raise awareness of the methods they use and prevent them from stealing any cash in the first place. That is why we have specialist staff who pay regular visits to banks and community groups to educate people about how to spot the signs of fraud. ‘Please do share our advice with your friends, colleagues and especially any elderly or vulnerable neighbours or family members, and together we can stop courier fraudsters in their tracks.’

Stay safe

• Your bank or the police will never call you to ask you to verify your personal details or PIN by phone, or offer to pick up your card by courier. Hang up, wait a few minutes and call your bank on a number you know to be genuine (such as the one on the back of your card) or by calling 159.

• The police or your bank will not contact you out of the blue to participate in an investigation, or send a courier to your home to collect bank cards, cash, or other valuable items. Any requests to do so are a scam.

• Do not trust the caller ID display on your phone – it is not proof of identification.

Remember, staying cautious and sceptical can go a long way in protecting yourself from courier fraud. Take the time to verify information, seek advice from trusted sources, and never rush into making financial decisions under pressure.

If you think you have been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Report Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.