Mum 'held to ransom' after 'message from her son'

A woman was "held to ransom" by scammers who pretended they were going to hurt her son. The woman, aged 69, sent the criminals £1,000 after being told her son was in danger - but he was actually fine.

Cheshire Police issued a warning today after the incident, which involved a woman in Latchford, Warrington. They said she contacted them on Wednesday of this week after being targeted.

The woman told police she had received a text message from an unknown number, purporting to be from her son. It stated he was "in trouble" and needed her to send him money.

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A call from a different number followed, with the person on the other end of the phone telling the woman they had her son and would harm him if she did not send money to them. The woman transferred £1,000 to a bank account whose details were provided on the call.

Police said they later confirmed the woman's son was not in any danger. PC Matthew Jennings, Warrington West beat manager, said: “This is a shocking incident in which an elderly resident was, in essence, held to ransom by these cold and calculating scammers who created a sense of panic, leaving her to feel that she had no option but to transfer a considerable amount of money to ensure the safety of her son. As it transpires, she had been scammed.

“Those who commit courier fraud can be very convincing, but there are several ways to prevent fraud, and I would advise you to become familiar with these tips.

“Please share them with any elderly or vulnerable family members or friends to ensure they don’t become victims themselves.”

Cheshire Police safety tips to help prevent fraud:

• Never provide personal or financial information to someone you don't know, especially over the phone.

• If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately.

• If the caller pressures you to hurry up with the transfer of money, this is a likely indication that the person you are speaking to is not genuine.

• Never withdraw large sums of money based on instructions from someone claiming to be from the police or a bank.

• Scammers use software to have any number they wish to appear on your phone’s caller ID screen. This method, known as ‘spoofing’, means they can appear to be calling from a legitimate number linked to a person or company, when in fact they are not - be cautious.

• If you believe that you have fallen victim to a scam, contact your bank directly using a known and trusted phone number to verify any requests for money or sensitive information. You can also call police on 101.

If you think you’ve uncovered a scam, been targeted by a scam or fallen victim to fraudsters, contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at Action Fraud. Alternatively, call police on 101 if you know the suspect or they’re still in the area.