People in Missouri are being warned of a new telephone scam which is currently sweeping the United Kingdom and could be set to hit the United States.
A news release says authorities are urging the public to beware if they receive a call from an apparent police officer telling you that your bank card has been cloned or that money has been taken from your account. The scam, which has been conning people across the UK, involves the “police officer” then asking the victim to either hand over their bank details, transfer funds or withdraw cash for collection.
Chelsea Davies, CPR Call Blocker Business Development Manager, said: “In our experience of working across the US and UK, scams spread quickly across the pond, so it is sensible for people in Missouri to be on their guard as we have no doubt that fraudsters operating in the US will soon start using these tactics. It’s important to remember that police officers and bank officials will never ask you to withdraw or transfer money or hand over private banking details. We ask that friends, relatives and neighbors of seniors help us spread the message to prevent anyone falling victim to this scam.”
Authorities offer advice to prevent you becoming a victim of bogus calls:
· Hang up if you ever have any doubts about someone who has called you.
· Ensure the line has been terminated before making any further calls. You can tell if the dial tone is present or by using another phone.
· Never give out your PIN number, banks will never ask for it.
· Never give bank cards to anyone at your door, even if they say they’re from the bank.
Davies continued: “In the meantime, if you suspect your account may have been compromised, contact your bank or card provider as soon as possible. It also is advisable to check your bank and card statements regularly for unauthorized charges as a matter of course.”