Pensioner loses €10k in fake police officer scam

A man in his 80s has been conned out of €10,000 by an organised crime group falsely claiming to be police officers and bank staff.

The pensioner, from Nelson, Lancashire, was tricked when he got a phone call from someone claiming to be undercover police who told him that his bank account had been compromised and that he needed to withdraw two lots of €5,000.

The victim withdrew the money on two separate visits to the Post Office on 21 and 22 January and an unknown man then went to his house to collect the cash in euros, which is about £8,706.

The man later contacted Lancashire Police saying he thought he had been scammed.

Members of the crime gang continued to call the landline from a withheld number while officers were there to investigate.

Detectives are working to identify and detain the offenders and the victim is being supported and safeguarded, the force said.

A police spokesman said: "Police officers or bank staff will not contact you and ask you to participate in covert fraud investigations.

"If you have any concerns about someone claiming to be a police officer, ask them for their name and identification and check with the genuine police by calling 999."

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