Courier Fraud: Derbyshire Woman Loses £11,000 in Sophisticated Scam
Samantha Bradshaw, 38, from Alfreton, Derbyshire, experienced a harrowing four-hour ordeal where sophisticated scammers drained her bank accounts of roughly GBP#11,000. Believing she was assisting a fraud investigation by NatWest and Merseyside Police, she handed over her bank cards to a bogus courier who arrived at her home.
Derbyshire Police have described such 'courier fraud' incidents as 'sadly not unusual' and emphasised that they can target individuals of any age. The criminals often possess basic personal details, which they leverage to build trust with their victims.
The Anatomy of the Deception
The scam commenced with a phone call to Ms Bradshaw from an individual claiming to be from NatWest's fraud department. She was informed of arrests in Merseyside related to her bank card being duplicated and was then connected to a supposed police constable. The scammers convinced her that her bank cards were required as evidence to keep the arrested individuals in custody.
Despite initial scepticism, Ms Bradshaw was provided with a phone number that, when searched online, appeared to be Merseyside Police. The scammers explained that 'courier services' were in place for such investigations, and a bogus crime reference number was also supplied. Crucially, the perpetrators already possessed her address, confirming details rather than asking for them, lending an air of authenticity to their narrative.
Within ten minutes of Ms Bradshaw's agreement, a courier arrived, given a safe word by the scammers, and collected her bank cards in an envelope with the fake crime reference number. The fraudsters kept Ms Bradshaw on the phone for four hours, guiding her through supposed 'security steps', including requesting her PIN to 'prove' card ownership, all executed at speed to prevent her from discerning the deception.
Devastating Impact and Police Warning
It was only later, when her husband contacted her, that the full extent of the fraud became apparent, revealing all their funds had been stolen. Ms Bradshaw recounted the 'sick to my stomach' feeling and the 'absolutely awful' anxiety that followed. While NatWest eventually reimbursed her, she described the period as 'the worst four days of our lives', highlighting the profound psychological impact.
City of London Police's Det Supt Oliver Little underscored that courier fraud constitutes 'serious organised crime' and is 'very sophisticated at getting people's confidence'. He advised that anyone with concerns should always call 101 to verify police contact or 159 for their bank, as banks and police will never demand PINs, ask for money withdrawals, or request items for investigations.
Ms Bradshaw's case is currently under investigation by Derbyshire Police. The force reiterated that fraud is a 'devastating crime' that affects anyone, stressing that official bodies will never ask for PINs or instruct individuals to send money or items. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for extreme vigilance against increasingly elaborate criminal schemes.