By Lucy Caulkett-
Clever fraudsters have been posing as anti-scam officers in order to trick victims into handing over details for ‘refunds’, the UK Mirror has reported.
In a warning on Wednesday, the government’s security arm known as Action Fraud expressed awareness of a series of letters currently in circulation claiming to be from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB).
The letters are sent out to victims of fraud , offering them the chance to have their money returned.
Receipt of refunds requires the victims to send their personal details to a South African bank. The fraudsters use the NFIB branding and the name of the City of London Police’s Commissioner, Ian Dyson, to appear credible.
The NFIB is part of Action Fraud and sits within the City of London Police which is the national policing lead for fraud. However, they are not behind the letters being fraudulently sent to fraud victims. They have warned customers a to take careful steps.
In a statement, the NFIB said: “The fraudsters are sending these letters so that they are able to gather bank details and defraud people who have already fallen victim to fraud.”
If you’ve been a victim in the past, challenge any letters from people you don’t know or companies you’ve never contacted. Clarify any letters directly with the relevant organisation.
If you’re asked to pay, or give your bank account details, end all contact.
Ask questions: Ask them how they found out that you had been a victim. Any report of fraud is protected by law and can’t be shared with anyone else outside of law enforcement agencies.
Fraud is a very evil way of deceptively stealing money from people and using it for the benefits of the fraudsters themselves. It carries a heavy jail sentence of up to 7 years depending the scale of the fraud. Extra steps must always be taken by individuals before giving out personal bank details to unknown people even when letters that appear to have letter heads on them are sent.