North Yorkshire Police have received a large number of reports from local residents where they have been called by a male claiming to be a police officer. This 'police officer' goes on to claim they have arrested a person related to the victim who has attempted to buy a television or other high value item using the victim's bank card. The scammer will often give the victim a bogus reference number. The victim is instructed to attend their bank to withdraw money which will then be collected for safekeeping in order to protect them. The victim is further told that they must lie to the bank if they are challenged and say the money is to purchase a car or for building work or some other plausible excuse. This is of course false.
Remember, the police or your bank will never contact you and ask you to move or transfer money.
If you receive a call of this nature, hang up immediately, do not engage with the caller. make sure the telephone line is clear (i.e. the scammer is no longer on the line) and call 101.
Please forward this alert onto family and friends.
