Scammers posing as police conned an elderly Exmouth victim out of £14,000 amid a spate of fraud in East Devon and Exeter.
Police have revealed officers are investigating 12 separate reports of cold callers who preyed on East Devon victims in Exmouth, Sidbury, also Exeter, Bradninch, in mid Devon, Plymouth, and Heybrook Bay in south Devon.
Each time the caller, posing a police officer, phoned residents claiming they needed money to help with an investigation, persuaded them to withdraw ‘significant funds’ from a cashpoint and hand it over the cash to a courier.
One Exmouth resident was swindled out of £14,000, convinced the cash was ‘assisting with an investigation’.
Police said the swindlers were often demanding, resulting in some victims scammed out of thousands of pounds.
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson said: “We are warning residents to be vigilant over a phone scam involving fraudsters posing as police officers – with one elderly victim swindled out of £14,000.
“Officers are investigating 12 reports across Devon in the space of a fortnight of people being called by scammers under the guise of ‘assisting with an investigation’.
“They are asked to withdraw significant funds from cash machines and to hand the money over to a courier.
“Residents have been targeted in Exeter, Exmouth, Sidbury, Plymouth, Bradnich and Heybrook Bay between 2 and 18 July. One Exmouth resident was convinced to hand over £14,000.
“An investigation is ongoing to identify those involved.”
Devon and Cornwall Police said the force would never call for bank or card details, ask for cash or to get involved with an investigation, funding, or hand over money to a courier.
Police Sergeant Tona Pooley said: “Victims are never to blame. These fraudsters can be very persuading and demanding, which unfortunately in this case, has led to some people being scammed out of thousands of pounds.
“If you have been a victim of this scam or to one similar, please report it to the police or to Action Fraud. Your information is vital in helping us identify the people who are behind this.
“Reporting fraud is important. If you’ve been a victim of a scam or an attempted scam, however minor, there may be hundreds or thousands of others in a similar position.
Contact police on 101, or through the force website. Or call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
