Police in Cumbria are urging people to help them protect the vulnerable from "heartless, cold and ruthless" fraudsters targeting victims by phone.
Officers have also enlisted the help of pharmacists, taxi drivers and businesses to assist them in warning the public about criminals using phones - often landlines - to con people out of cash.
Courier fraud is a cruel and calculated crime that targets trust, often focussing on vulnerable people, such as older members of the community.
They may pretend to be official people such as police officers or bank workers and may know a little bit about victims, such as name, date of birth or the name of their bank.
Questions are then asked by the fraudster to `fill the gaps' in their knowledge and then requests made for money to be sent electronically or for cash to be withdrawn.
They reply on creating a sense of panic which makes the people they have called act instinctively without thinking logically.
The fraudsters may ask for cash or expensive goods to be collected by a courier, which is why it is sometimes known as courier fraud.
Victims lost a total of more than £1,300 in these frauds last year in Cumbria. But the effect is not just financial - with victims, sometimes elderly, losing trust in people contacting them.
Police officers and staff have been working across the county to raise awareness of this issue.
As part of this work, they have sought the help of people who may deal regularly with older people or others who could help stop the crime happening.
Fran Henderson, a Cumbria Police specialist in preventing fraud, said: "The fraudsters who carry out these offences are heartless, cold, and ruthless.
"They target some of the most vulnerable in our society.
"They are also very friendly, persuasive, and persistent. They sound completely believable.
"Their interactions are carefully scripted to ensure that the victim is convinced they are either a senior police officer or a member of an internal investigation team within their bank.
"Under the guise of assisting police or the bank with an investigation, victims are often persuaded to purchase jewellery or gold bullion and hand over these high value goods to someone on their doorstep.
"Our staff are working hard to raise awareness of these phone frauds - because the best way to stop them is to put the phone down and report it.
"But we need your help to speak to older friends and relatives to explain that they should be cautious when dealing with strangers on the phone, even if they do claim to have an official job title."
Cumbria Police have sent letters to taxi drivers in the county to alert them to the fraud and PCSOs have been going to taxi ranks to distribute literature to the drivers, helping them engage their customers in conversation about the issue.
Victims may use taxis to travel to banks, post offices or jewellers to withdraw cash or purchase jewellery. The criminal couriers themselves have also used taxis to travel to victims' homes to collect cash or valuables.
Boots chemists have helped raise awareness by placing fraud alert cards on their counters, which give advice and details of this type of offence.
Food firm Wiltshire Farm Foods have also helped by delivering the cards alongside meals delivered to their customers.
PCSOs are going to be engaging with doctors' surgeries, opticians, jewellers, bureaux de change outlets and gold merchants – so they can help spot the signs, give warnings and alert police.
Fran added: "We're extremely grateful for the assistance provided by local taxi drivers, Boots, Wiltshire Farm Foods and everyone else who helps us. Increasing awareness of this particular type of fraud is so very important.
"We also need the general public to help protect others by speaking to older relatives, neighbours and friends who may not see our warnings and emphasise to them the need to be suspicious of any unexpected calls.
"If they have any concerns that the person on the phone may be a fraudster, people should put the phone down.
"As fraudsters have been known to stay on the line, please wait five minutes or use a different phone to contact the police on 101 or your bank on a trusted number for advice and guidance.
"Should you not have the number for your bank to hand, dial 159 and you will hear a list of options as to which bank you are trying to contact. You simply say the name of your bank, and you will be put through. The `159' option works from both mobile phones and landlines. "
Cumbria's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said: "These criminals target the most vulnerable in our communities so it's really important that we look out for one another.
"If you have a gut feeling that something is suspicious or wrong, it usually is, so please hang up on the person you are speaking to and report it to the police or call the organisation the caller says they are from, such as your bank, to confirm their identity – it's better to be safe than sorry.
"I'm pleased to see the Constabulary getting out to businesses and raising the alarm with them to help combat courier fraud.
"I'd encourage everyone to read up on and speak to your older or more vulnerable family members and friends about the signs of a scam. By knowing how to spot them, we can better protect ourselves and each other."
The key advice
Your bank, other agencies and the police would:
Never ask you for your bank account details or PIN number over the phone.
Never ask you to withdraw money and send it to them via someone calling at your house – such as a courier or taxi – or by bank transfer or by any other means.
Never ask you to send your bank cards or any other personal property to them via courier, taxi or by any other means.
If you have any doubts about the identity of the person that you are speaking with, put the phone down. As fraudsters have been known to keep the line open after a victim has hung up, either wait five minutes - or use a different phone to contact the bank or police using a trusted number. Never use a number provided to you by the caller.
Remember the 159 feature to enable you to be put through to your bank on a trusted number. 101 is the non-urgent number to use to contact the police.
If you think you have been the victim of a fraud you can report this to police on 101. Always use 999 in an emergency.
Face-to-face advice
Police fraud experts continue to make visits to shops and banks to provide advice to the public.
They will be at Houghton Hall Garden Centre, Carlisle, between 10am and 1pm tomorrow and Hayes Garden Centre, Ambleside, 10am to 1pm on Thursday.
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