Warning issued following surge in fraud offences across Cheshire
Cheshire Constabulary is warning residents to be vigilant following a significant increase in fraud offences.
Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic the force has seen a 22 per cent increase in the number of reports of fraud across the county.
The wide variety of fraud offences reported include online shopping scams, fraudulent emails, hoax text messages, cold callers and even fraudulent pet sales.
Many of the offenders target the most vulnerable members of the community.
Detective Superintendent Sarah Pengelly said: "We don't want to scare people during this difficult time, but sadly criminals will use every opportunity to defraud innocent people, despite the ongoing pandemic.
"The people committing these offences are not small-time criminals. They are part of larger organised crime groups who undertake sophisticated operations with the aim of fraudulently obtaining as much money as possible.
"They can contact you by phone, email, text, on social media or in person.
"They will try to trick you into parting with your money or personal information, or buying goods or services that don't exist.
"These gangs don't just target individuals, they also target business.
"Here in Cheshire we have had a number of recent cases of fraudsters obtaining large amounts of money from independent businesses trying to operate during this difficult time.
"In one case a company in Runcorn was defrauded out of £1 million, while a Widnes company lost £65,000.
"These were sophisticated frauds whereby the fraudster impersonated the Chief Executive Officer of the company in order to access the cash.
"Thankfully, in both cases the victim's bank was able to recover the money. However, they act as a reminder of how important it is for everyone to be aware of this type of crime and to be vigilant at all times.
"We are committed to doing all that we can to close down fraudulent websites, stop fake sales and ultimately bring those responsible to justice, but there are also a number of simple steps that everyone can take to protect themselves from falling victims to these crimes."
If you are approached unexpectedly, whether that be face-to-face, over the phone or via email, remember to:
- Stop: Taking a moment to think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
- Challenge: Could it be fake? It is okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
- Protect: Contact your bank immediately if you think you have fallen victim to a scam and report it to the police or contact Action Fraud.
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