Elderly couple in Portsmouth targeted by scam occurring across Hampshire

An elderly couple from Portsmouth were the latest potential victims, after being called about alleged suspicious activity relating to their bank account.

The couple, who are in their 80s, were told to help the investigation they should attend their bank and withdraw a specified amount of money, which would be collected by a courier.

But the pair were able to establish this was a scam and did not hand over money.

Scammers used this courier scam on 11 people aged between 53 and 93 years old across Hampshire, taking in £12,000 through the crime.

The calls sometimes involved the criminals posing as police, as well as telling individuals not to trust their bank’s anti-fraud checks.

The police have issued a statement clarifying they will ‘never’ call people to ask to them withdraw money or disclose personal or financial information.

A spokesman from Hampshire Constabulary said: ‘Anyone making a request like this is part of a scam, as is anyone acting as a courier to collect money.

‘If you receive calls such as this, please hang up and call us on 101 or your bank to seek advice. It is important you do this from a different telephone line to the one you just received any suspicious call on.’

Call 101 to report a scam.