Dursley Post Office staff and PCSOs prevent scam

The woman was harassed by the Colombian man over the phone after being sucked into the scam

Post Office staff members and police intervened to prevent an elderly woman from sending her savings to a scammer.

The 90-year-old woman, from Dursley in Gloucestershire, had attempted to send almost £2,000 to a Colombian conman on two occasions.

After Post Office staff shared their concerns that she was being tricked, Stroud PCSOs visited the woman.

They then intercepted a call from the scammer while at her home and told him to leave her alone.

Officers were called by staff at Dursley Post Office on 15 February after the victim had tried transferring almost £2,000 to an unknown man in Colombia.

The man had claimed that there was a problem with her computer which he would be able to fix if she sent him the money via Moneygram, police said.

Moneygram stopped the payment, so the woman tried to transfer a smaller amount of £800 to the man via the Post Office.

She told staff that he had called her to reassure her that he was not scamming her.

When Post Office staff raised the alarm, PCSOs Mike Trebble and Trina Ellis visited the woman's home to provide.

She was "very distressed and shaken up" due to continued harassment by the man, who had called her multiple times in a bid to obtain money from her through different means.

During their visit, the man tried phoning again, so PCSO Trebble picked up the phone.

The scammer was told he was talking to the police and not to make contact with the victim ever again.

Gloucestershire Constabulary is urging the public to warn elderly or vulnerable relatives, friends and neighbours of computer software service fraud.

Signs you are being scammed include a stranger unexpectedly contacting you, being asked to transfer money quickly, being asked to pay in an unusual way, and being asked to give away personal information.