A SCAM in which a man was conned out of almost £10,000 has led police to arrest a suspect from Rugby.
The man was arrested on Monday (February 1) by officers from the Warwickshire Police Fraud Team on suspicion of fraud and money laundering.
On January 22, the victim – a man in his 60s from Nottinghamshire – reported receiving a text message claiming to be from HSBC, stating that a new payee had been added to his account.
He clicked on a link in the text and a short time later he received a call from someone claiming to be from the bank saying his account was in danger and he needed to transfer funds to another account.
The man transferred £9,350 into an account set up by the fraudster.
The incident was reported to Action Fraud and the investigation taken on by the Warwickshire Police Fraud Team after the suspect was identified in Rugby.
Det Cons Stuart Clasper from the Warwickshire Police Fraud Team said: “We are committed to stamping out telephone fraud which costs victims millions of pounds a year.
“The public can help by being alert to the signs of a scam. Please remember, your bank will never make contact asking you to transfer your money.”
The suspect has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.
Anyone with information that could help police with their enquiries is asked to call 101 quoting crime reference 23/3162/21 – or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Forward suspected scam texts to 7726 where they will be investigated to prevent someone else falling victim.
Report fraud to Action Fraud at https://reporting.actionfraud.police.uk/lreporting or by calling 0300 123 2040. Call 999 if in immediate danger or risk of harm.
