Residents warned about phone scam

Residents in Rochdale are being warned about conmen posing as police and bank officials over the phone in order to defraud them.

There have been numerous incidents over the last two months where victims have been tricked into disclosing bank details and handing over cards, and money has then been stolen from accounts.

Greater Manchester Police is urging people to make elderly or vulnerable relatives aware of this type of crime, and to remind them never to reveal account numbers, sort codes or PIN numbers over the phone, as legitimate banks would never ask for these.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard Jackson of GMP’s Economic Crime Section said: “If you are called by someone claiming to be a police officer and you have concerns, take their details, including name and collar number, and call police on 101 to verify their identity.

“Likewise, if you have suspicions about someone claiming to be from a bank, you should ask for the caller's name, the name of the bank, and the branch they are from. You should then contact the branch to confirm their identity. If you believe your card has been cloned or stolen, call your bank straight away.

“I want to reassure the public that our resources are focused on those fraudsters in the community who are causing the most harm, and we regularly run investigations that result in significant sentences for offenders, as well as the recovery of criminally obtained funds.”

People can now call Action Fraud* on 0300 123 2040 to report fraud, or report it online at www.actionfraud.police.uk

Action Fraud is a new central point of contact for members of the public, and businesses, to report fraud and financially motivated internet crime.

The website gives advice on how to avoid falling victim to this type of offence, and online reporting is available at all times.