Courier fraud is on the rise. Understanding how these scams work could help you spot the scammers before they arrive on your doorstep.
What is courier fraud?
Courier fraud is a type of impersonation scam where a criminal contacts you unexpectedly and pretends to be from a trusted organisation such as your bank, the police or another official body.
The caller then claims there is a problem with your account or there is an investigation they need your help with, and manipulates you into handing over bank cards, cash or other valuables.
They may send a courier to your home to collect these items, ask you to post them, or tell you to move money to a so-called ‘safe account’. The scam can even develop over days or weeks. Fraudsters invest time in building your trust and creating a sense of urgency.
A real-world example
In a recent case, a customer received a call from someone claiming to represent a well-known retailer regarding an expensive television allegedly purchased using their bank card. The customer was then transferred between individuals claiming to work for various organisations, including bank fraud teams, regulators and law enforcement.
Over several weeks, the fraudsters remained in regular contact and convinced the customer that their account was at risk. They claimed the customer was helping an investigation into corrupt banking employees and needed to take urgent action to safeguard their money.
Trust was built gradually. The fraudsters created a believable narrative and appeared knowledgeable, authoritative and reassuring. To ‘protect’ their money, the customer was instructed to:
- Purchase expensive mobile phones using their debit and credit cards.
- Hand the purchased devices to a courier who is collecting evidence.
- Surrender their bank card to couriers for ‘examination’.
- Follow specific instructions when speaking to their bank.
Jess Cook, Take Five spokesperson said:
“Courier fraud relies on social engineering and manipulation that creates worry, a sense of urgency or a desire to help. Criminals take advantage of our instincts and combine this with a sequence of requests that seem plausible in the moment. Criminals are experts at impersonating people, organisations and the police.They spend hours researching you for their scams, hoping you’ll let your guard down for just a moment. Recognising these approaches can help you pause and verify the request independently before sharing information, moving money or handing over valuables.”
Warning signs to look for
- You receive a call from someone claiming to be from your bank, the police or a regulator and asks you to take urgent action.
- They claim there is an urgent problem, such as a fraudulent payment, a compromised card, or an investigation involving your account.
- They may use personal details, spoofed caller ID, secrecy or pressure to make the request feel genuine.
- They request that you purchase goods as part of a fraud investigation.
- They ask for your bank card, cash, jewellery, or other valuables to be collected by a courier.
- They tell you not to speak to anyone else.
- They instruct you to provide misleading information to your bank.
Remember to Stop. Challenge. Protect.
It is important to Stop, Challenge, Protect if you receive a suspicious call:
Stop: Take a moment to think before taking any action. Criminals rely on creating urgency and pressure. Remember, your bank or the police will never ask you to surrender your bank cards or purchase goods.
Challenge: Ask yourself, could the call be fake? Regardless of how genuine it might seem, hang up and Take Five. Call your bank using the number on the back of your card or a number you know to be true. You can also call 159 and be connected safely to your bank. Legitimate organisations won’t mind you taking the time to verify.
Protect: If you think you’ve been scammed contact your bank immediately and tell the police at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040.