Grandmother ‘violated’ by Met Police scammers

Sue said she felt stupid after realising it was all a scam

A grandmother has said she came close to losing her life savings after being targeted by a scammer claiming to be a Met Police officer.

Sue, from Telford, Shropshire, who does not want her identity to be known, said a man claiming to be a detective sergeant said her cards had been cloned and he needed her help to investigate a larger criminal network.

Suspicious, Sue called her bank who confirmed it was a scam, but she described the experience as terrifying.

The 72-year-old said others could easily have been taken in.

Sue, who has spoken out to warn people about the dangers of being tricked, said the man claimed he was Det Sgt Paul Webster from the Metropolitan Police in Paddington.

“He said they had a young girl in custody and then he stopped – and there was a silence - and immediately your head and your heart goes into overdrive and you’re thinking: ‘Oh my goodness, who is it [the girl] that I know?’

“He went on to say that she’s been arrested for trying to buy a TV on a cloned card of mine. He said they had up to 17 cloned cards from people in Shropshire.”

The scammer spun a story that led to him ask Sue to set up a new bank account and transfer her life savings. She contacted her bank instead.

She said she had heard of a local man recently being targeted in the same way and lost £6,000.

"That has upset me so much," she added.

'So real'

Sue said she felt “completely violated” and “stupid” after she realised it was a scam.

During one of the calls, the scammer even told her to call 999 to confirm his identity - but diverted the call.

“When he said ‘ring 999’, he had that number redirected to a lady who said she was with the Metropolitan Police in London, and she ‘checked’ his badge number and his name and said: 'Yes, I can see on the screen that he’s been talking to you this morning," she added.

“So it was so real. It was so real.”

Det Sgt Jon Cooper from West Mercia Police said no police officer would ever ask someone to hand over money or transfer funds "regardless of their name or unit".

He added that the force thoroughly investigated these type crimes and wanted to hear from anyone who has been contacted in this way.

They urge people not to feel embarrassed as the scams can be very elaborate and very convincing.

The Metropolitan Police has also issued guidance for identifying a police officer who may have contacted someone by phone.