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Public warned over fraudsters

Police stock image
Police stock image

Three serious offences have been reported this week, though fortunately in each case the victims were savvy enough not to fall into the fraudsters’ trap.
First, on January 28, an 86-year-old woman from Tonbridge who had her debit card stolen the day before, was contacted by a man purporting to be from the police. He attempted to persuade her to tell him her PIN but she refused.
No money was taken and the woman contacted her bank to cancel her cards, and rightly called police to report the incident.
On January 29 at 2.40pm, an 87-year-old woman from Golden Green, also called police after she was contacted by a man asking her to withdraw money from her bank account and hand it to police in connection with a ‘fraud investigation’.
An Asian man came to her house hoping she would hand over cash but he made off without any money after the woman, who had become suspicious, called her son.
The man who came to her home was described as in his mid-20s, around 5ft 5ins and wearing a dark hat cap, a dark jacket and jeans. He had a beard or stubble, and also wore a grey scarf and dark framed horn-rimmed glasses.
Then, on January 30 at 2.40pm, another vulnerable woman, this time from Maidstone, called police after she was also contacted by a man who wanted her to withdraw a large sum of money and hand it to police.
Again, she had become suspicious and Kent Police advised her to return the cash to the bank immediately and not to hand it to anyone else.
Officers believe the three incidents may be linked and ask anyone who receives similar phone calls or house visits from people purporting to be police officers to dial 999.
Anyone with information about the attempted frauds can contact DS Lynda Birch at Tonbridge Police Station or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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