” o. itemList. length ” this. config. text. ariaShown “
“This. config. text. ariaFermé”
The victims, some over a hundred years old, were attacked by scammers before the banks intervened with heavy losses.
Workers are trained to detect cases, interview clients, and handle police recall requests at agencies that raise suspicions of fraud.
The UK Finance trade organization said £ 19 million was stored in the first part of the year and 100 arrests were made.
The coronavirus lockdown has raised considerations that other people new to web banking have hidden victims.
I love scams, yahoo guys and my Beth
Lockdown budget exploited via scammers
Officially known as the Banking Protocol, the scheme has prevented those affected from spending £ 116 million on fraud and has led to 744 arrests since its arrival 3 years ago through industry, industry standards and law enforcement. policeman.
The other people targeted through scammers are sometimes over 65. Some have been persuaded to withdraw a giant sum of cash and hand it over to scammers posing as smugglers.
In one case, Maureen from Southampton won two calls in June from criminals claiming to be from the “fraud squad. “
The 74-year-old woman was told to put £ 4,700 into an account so they could locate the stolen money. The transaction was stopped through the counter staff.
In a more recent case in August, a potential victim attempted to send cash to “a friend” on an oil rig he had no access to, and then refund the cash.
At first, she was not convinced that the story was a lie, but the police were called and the transaction stopped.
Romantic fraud was also avoided, a specific fear of the loneliness of confinement.
Scammers use fake online dating profiles to trick those affected into moving money.
Katy Worobec, UK Finance Chief Financial Officer, said: “It is disgusting that criminals prey on the elderly and the vulnerable during these difficult times.
“Frontline Bank branches are doing a heroic task in stopping these ruthless scams and helping bring the culprits to justice. “
Cases have decreased slightly since the first part of 2019, due to the closure of many branches and the lockdown.
This has raised considerations that first time seniors’ web banking would possibly be vulnerable to scams.
The banking industry is now working with law enforcement to expand the program and online banking.
Officers can simply call at the homes of vulnerable sufferers who have attempted to make a payment through online banking or by phone that has been flagged as a potential component of a scam.