Police issue warnings over sophisticated fraud and impersonation scams

Law enforcement agencies in Norfolk, UK, and New Hartford, US, are issuing warnings to residents regarding increasingly sophisticated fraudulent schemes designed to steal money and personal data.

In Norfolk, scammers are utilizing several tactics, including impersonating police officers to conduct ‘courier fraud.’ In these instances, criminals claim a victim's bank account is compromised and request cash withdrawals or the handover of bank cards. Other prevalent methods include WhatsApp messages where fraudsters impersonate family members claiming to have a new number, and ‘work from home’ task scams that promise remote employment to lure victims.

In New Hartford, police have reported cases involving remote access theft and impersonation of government officials. In one instance, a victim was convinced via video call to grant a scammer remote access to their mobile phone, allowing the criminal to monitor financial transactions. In another case, an individual claiming to represent the Federal Trade Commission instructed a victim to withdraw large sums of cash and place it in a box for an alleged undercover agent to collect.