By Bridie Adams

A 73-year-old man from Herefordshire has been the victim of attempted courier fraud.

The man received a call from someone claiming to be from the Metropolitan Police, who said that they were investigating counterfeit bank notes. They persuaded the man to withdraw £4,200 from his bank account and told him an officer would come to collect the money from his home address.

The man refused and said he would only deliver the money to Hereford police station, and thankfully realised it was a scam before handing any money over.

Courier fraud is when a scammer asks their victim to withdraw money, make bank transfers or hand over card details. It can involve cold calls from people claiming to be from authorities such as police or credit card companies.

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Detective Superintendent Will Horton said: “No officer will ask you to pay, withdraw or transfer money or ask for your bank details. If someone does, it’s a scam – provide no details and hand nothing over, hang up, wait ten minutes then call 101.”

West Mercia Police also received a report of an 80-year-old woman attempting to transfer £28,700 to someone claiming to be from BT. Staff members at her bank were vigilant and called the police immediately.

If you receive a suspicious phone call, you can report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040.