Elderly woman conned out of £2,000 by man claiming to be a police officer
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The victim, a woman in her eighties from Winchester, was contacted by a man over the phone purporting to be a police officer from Hammersmith in London.
The bogus police officer said her bank account had been targeted and asked her to withdraw her £2,000 savings which would be held for safe-keeping. The woman met with the man and handed over the money in an envelope.
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Hide AdWhen questioned for security reasons by the bank as to why she was withdrawing so much money she informed the cashier it was for shopping and paying bills – a story she was coerced into providing after a conversation with the fake police officer.
The handing over of the money took place at 2.36pm on Thursday June 4 after the woman had withdrawn the money from HSBC on Winchester High Street.
Hampshire Police have released CCTV footage of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.
Anyone who has information on the incident or knows the identity of the man is asked to call the police on 101 and quote reference 44200202099
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Hide AdA statement from the police said: ‘Police officers will never call people in this way and ask you to withdraw money or disclose personal or financial information. If someone does do this, please hang up – it will be a scam.’