A WARNING has been issued over a telephone scam after a woman was nearly defrauded out of £27,000.
West Mercia Police are investigating the incident in which a 75-year-old was almost duped by the scammers.
Someone contacted her claiming to be from BT, saying they were investigating online hackers and needed to install some new applications on her computer.
Without realising the pensioner installed the applications which enabled the fraudsters to remotely access her computer.
They were able to get her bank details which resulted in her very nearly being defrauded out of £27,000.
Fortunately, staff at her bank spotted the unusual online activity on her account and were able to put a stop to the transactions.
It was a deeply distressing situation for the woman who came very close to losing her life savings.
She has also had to go through the lengthy process of changing her email address, passwords, phone numbers and bank details.
PC Richard Foulkes, from West Mercia Police said: “We take reports of this nature very seriously and while enquiries are ongoing, this incident is currently being investigated as part of a wider West Mercia Police initiative called Project Prospero, aimed at tackling online and courier fraud.
“These fraudsters are often very convincing and give the person they are calling no reason to believe they are not genuine.”
If people are contacted by scammers, they should not feel pressured. They should give themselves time to stop and think and if in any doubt should not give out any personal banking details and hang up the phone straight away.
They should then contact the police on 101 or Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
People are also advised to call 1471 to see if they can get the number the scammers were calling on.
