COURIER FRAUD
HOW FRAUDSTERS USE TAXIS/PHVs TO DEFRAUD THE VULNERABLE OUT OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS
Article by Andy Fox Yorkshire & Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit
Andrew.Fox@
yhrocu.police.uk
Courier fraud occurs when a fraudster contacts victims by telephone claiming to be a police officer or bank official. Victims are then asked to assist in an investigation by
withdrawing money or foreign currency,
attending their bank and or
purchasing an expensive item to hand over to a ‘courier’ for examination, who will also be a fraudster.
Courier fraud will typically follow one of the below patterns
1) Bank card expiry: fraudsters claim to be from the victim’s bank and say their card is no longer valid. They ask for the PIN number and then send a “courier” to collect the card before using it for fraudulent purposes.
2) Purchasing high value items: suspects pretend to be police, asking victims to help an undercover operation by purchasing watches, jewellery or gold. Once purchased, a courier will come to collect the item.
3) Counterfeit cash/bank investigation: a person claiming to be a police or banking official informs the victim that they need to help with a banking corruption investigation. The victim is told to withdraw a large amount of money and the cash is picked up later by a courier to “check for fingerprints or to identify counterfeit bank notes”.
Gangs specifically target the most elderly and vulnerable and will sometimes order taxis to take these victims to and from the bank to withdraw cash.
Once cash is withdrawn, couriers will travel by trains originating from London. They will either book a taxi from the train or hire the first cab at the rank on arrival.
The courier will then direct the taxi to the victim’s address and instruct it to wait nearby as they attend
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the front door so as not to witness the courier collecting cash from an elderly victim. The courier may not give the exact address but just a postcode.
The courier then returns to the taxi after only a few minutes (usually carrying a package) and returns to the train station where they will board the next London bound train.
It is not unknown for couriers to make several stops and ask to be driven long distances. These journeys are paid for in cash, sometimes paid for from the package they have just collected.
Even though they are claiming to be police or other ‘officials’, couriers will not be smartly dressed and can often be young people. The courier will often attempt to hide their identity by wearing a hood or covid mask.
The reasons given for these journeys will be vague, for example: a family emergency or not trusting the reliability of the rail service.
Victims will believe they are assisting the police and will be sworn to secrecy by the caller. They will be given a cover story, such as getting money for a relative, so as not to alert suspicion but will probably appear nervous or unsure.
Losses will be substantial, amounting to tens of thousands of pounds.
● Drivers are asked to be vigilant of such journeys to and from local train stations by potential couriers.
● If you suspect you are transporting a courier, when safe, call the police on ‘999’ passing your taxi VRM, location and destination. The relevant police force control room will deploy the appropriate resource and response.
● Taxi drivers are also asked to raise awareness amongst their everyday elderly passengers and to also consider unusual repeat fares to local banks. Should such fares be identified then taxi drivers are again requested to contact the police.
This crime has a devastating effect and the courier journey is a key time to intervene and protect victims.
APRIL 2023 PHTM
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