Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site
We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.
You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.
This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.
Do you recognise this man? Officers investigating a report of a courier fraud scam in Southampton would like to speak with him.
We were called on Tuesday 14 January to a report that a man in his 80s from Southampton was called by a man purporting to be a police officer who was carrying out a large undercover fraud investigation.
The man told the victim he needed his assistance with the investigation and persuaded him to withdraw £6,000 in cash from his bank account so he could keep it safe.
The victim then met a man in the Sainsbury’s car park in Shirley at around 4pm on 14 January and handed over the cash.
After the cash was handed over, the scammer then phoned the victim again, and claimed he was investigating gold scammers that were importing fake gold from overseas.
The man asked the victim to buy a large amount of gold from a jewellery store so it could be assessed. The man placed a £13,200 deposit with a Southampton jewellers, but the shop did not authorise the transaction and instead contacted the police, believing something was not quite right.
Officers have launched an investigation and provided the victim with safeguarding advice and urged him to not engage with any future calls of this nature.
Since this was reported to us, officers have been carrying out extensive enquiries and are now in a position to release an image of a man we would like to speak with as part of our investigation.
He has been described as being white, of medium build, with dark hair. He was wearing jeans, a white hoodie and a dark woolly jumper.
Do you recognise the man? If you know their identity, saw anything suspicious in the area at the time, or have any dashcam or doorbell camera footage which could aid our investigation, please contact us.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting 44250019539. You can also submit information to us online here: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/
Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their anonymous online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.
Courier fraud is an advanced type of scam, which typically sees a victim receive an unexpected call from someone who pretends to be a police officer, a staff member from their local bank, or an employee from an internet or phone provider.
They then tell the victim that their account has been subject to fraudulent activity and request that the victim helps with the ongoing investigation.
Victims are usually asked for details about their financial accounts before being sent to their bank to withdraw money. They are then told to hand over money or an expensive item to a fraudulent courier, who will typically come to their home to collect it.
Officers are urging people to not engage with these type of calls. Victims are typically elderly and officers are asking anyone with an elderly relative, loved one, friend or associate to please make them aware of this scam.
Please remember that:
If you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, report it to us by calling 101. If a crime is in progress, dial 999.
You can make yourself aware of this type of scam and how to protect yourself by visiting the Action Fraud website (https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/) or by calling them on 0300 123 2040.