Phone fraud in the Bailiwick again

Saturday 27 November 2021

Police are warning that telephone fraudsters are currently targeting Bailiwick residents again.

They are trying to gain access to bank accounts by pretending to be calling from Amazon customer services or High Street banks.

In the past 24 hours, two Alderney residents have received calls claiming to be from their banks and using a cover story of unauthorised debit transactions on their accounts in an attempt to gain trust and compliance. 

Police are reminding people that callers from their banks, Amazon, Sky TV and other service providers supply customers with credentials and information to back up that they are who they say they are. 

Anyone who has any doubt about who they are speaking to or the purpose of the call is strongly advised not to provide any account details or passwords and to hang up immediately. And then to use phone numbers or apps provided by their banks or other companies to make checks and report any suspicions.

But it is advisable not to make the call straight away and if possible to use a different phone - because there have been cases where the fraudulent caller has been able to stay on the line and then intervene in the victim's next call. 

Anyone who suspects that fraudsters have accessed their computer or other electronic device should disconnect it from the internet and turn off their router. If using a tablet or phone, it should be disconnected from Wi-Fi or 4G.

Police are also asking relatives of anyone who has been a victim of a similar incident in the past year to remind them to be careful as it appears that the fraudsters active in the past 24 hours are targeting previous victims.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit their website HERE

The Alderney duty officer is available on 222 222 and Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.