Fraudsters target elderly victims in car park scam

The force said it believed the machines had been tampered with to retain the cards

Police have issued a warning after they received another report of people "fraudulently" posing as car park attendants in Coalville to target elderly victims.

Officers said victims were approached and guided to specific machines in Leicestershire to pay for parking and then told to insert a bank card and verbally "register" their PIN.

In April, three cases were reported to the force - two at car parks in Coalville and one in Glenfield - with as much as £1,300 taken in one incident.

After the most recent incident in Coalville, Leicestershire Police advised people to ask for a verified ID if they are unsure that someone is a genuine parking attendant.

The force said it believed the machines had been tampered with to retain the cards and victims were carefully selected.

Currently, there are no descriptions of the suspects available.

Nicole McIntyre, from the force's economic crime unit, said: "This is something new that unfortunately, while first reported to us last month, seems to be continuing as a way of fraudulently taking money from, again, elderly victims, so we know that these people are targeting those they believed are vulnerable.

"Our advice remains the same; you will never be asked to verify your PIN in such circumstances and if you are unsure that someone is a genuine car parking attendant, ask for a verified ID.

"If you are not sure and have any suspicion a criminal offence is being commented, please do not enter your card into the machine and contact police."