Local Priorities Fraud Message

I wanted to provide you with an update regarding Fraud, which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey.

This week The Holborn & Covent Garden Safer Neighbourhood team have taken part in OP SERENNO targeting Courier Fraud in Hatton Garden EC1, this was a joint operation with Central Specialist crime and The City of London Police.

Courier fraud occurs when a criminal contacts you pretending to be a police officer, bank official or other professional. To build trust, the caller may sometimes be able to confirm your name or address. The criminal may also provide a telephone number for you to check the call is genuine. In these circumstances, the number offered may not be genuine or, where a genuine number is suggested, the criminal will stay on the line and pass you to a different fraudster.

After trust has been gained, the fraudster will then ask for your help with an investigation, for example, to visit your bank and withdraw money, to withdraw foreign currency or to purchase expensive items such as gold bullion, jewellery or gift cards to hand over to a courier.

You will be promised to be reimbursed but in reality there is no further contact and the money is never seen again.

This crime type predominantly impacts older victims with the average age of this type of crime in London being 77 years old.

The aim of the operation was to raise the jewellers awareness and provide guidance on how they can safeguard vulnerable individuals, we successfully engaged with all Jewellers in Hatton Garden.

Fraud can affect anyone within the community, so we want to make sure you have the tools and knowledge to protect yourself from it. It comes in many different forms and across varying channels, whether that's through emails, phone calls or in person encounters. Some adults may be even more vulnerable to fraud or financial abuse, but it is something that everyone can be at risk of. If you’re concerned about someone you know, please contact your local social services and ask for Adult Social Care.

Please see a few resources below to protect you and others from potential fraudsters: 

• Learn the ten golden rules to prevent fraud.
• Find out about the most common types of fraud.
• Download The Little Book of Big Scams to find out more. The Little Book of Big Scams audio version is also available.

For more information and help and to report fraud, go to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre. Lastly, if you think you’ve uncovered a scam, been targeted by a scam or fallen victim to fraudsters, please contact 101 or Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at Action Fraud.

Get Involved

Please consider getting involved and contribute to the local priority survey, we may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on.  Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you. 

Please click here to complete the survey