#SockItToTheScammers: Warning to High Peak residents after scam calls target Buxton and Hope

We are warning people who live in the High Peak to be on their guard after scam calls were reported to the force this week.

Criminals targeted the Buxton and Hope areas with calls on Monday 17 July claiming to be police officers.

In one of the calls, made to a couple in Buxton, a man claiming to be a DC Jamie Sharing from the Met police told them that a man from their bank had been arrested and he needed their help as the arrested man had their account details.

The second incident saw a crook tell a woman that he had arrested a man claiming to be her grandson. When she began asking questions the scammer hung up.

Fortunately none of those contacted lost money as they became suspicious of the calls.

If you receive such a call you should not give out any personal information and hang up the call immediately.

Often this type of call can be linked to courier fraud – and we have seen victims lose tens of thousands of pounds.

Victims of courier fraud will be encouraged to withdraw funds from their bank account or give bank cards to a courier, arranged by the ‘police officer’ making the call under the guise of ‘assisting with a police investigation’.

The police will never contact you asking for banking information or request that you withdraw money from an account to aid an investigation.

Fraudsters often target areas where they know elderly or vulnerable people live, so we would ask that if you have family or friends who are vulnerable in any way that you make them aware of this scam.

The force has also recently released the first in a series of videos helping push the message of people needing to be on their guard against scammers – with a little help of a pink sock puppet named Claude:

If you, or someone you know, receives a call of this nature please contact us as soon as possible. We will then assess the area that is being targeted, alert the banks and endeavour to protect other local residents to prevent any financial loss.

• Facebook– send us a private message to /DerbyshireConstabulary
• Twitter– direct message our contact centre on @DerPolContact
• Website– complete the online contact form derbyshire.police.uk/Contact-Us.
• Phone – call us on 101.

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can also text on 07800 002414 or email us at [email protected]

On receiving a call of this nature please terminate the call, wait 5 minutes and ensure you can hear a dial tone before calling 101, to call your bank please use the number found on the back of your card.  All reports of this nature also need to be reported to Action Fraud 0300 120 2040 or online https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

For further fraud advice and prevention information please contact your local Fraud Protect Officer [email protected]