Fraud Offences

Thames Valley Police is appealing for information regarding incidents of fraud in Oxfordshire.

During the following incidents, a man pretending to be a Metropolitan Police officer from Paddington Green police station has called victims to say their personal details have been obtained by criminals.

The offender then advises the victim to hang up and call their bank, but unknown to victims the offender does not disconnect the call meaning the victim continues to speak to the offender.
Believing they are speaking to their bank, the victims then provide their bank details to the suspect.
The caller then persuades the victims to put their bank cards in an envelope, which is collected by another offender.

The first offence occurred at an address in Henley during the day on Saturday (28/9).
The victim, an 89-year-old man, gave two bank cards to an Asian man, aged about 25, of large build, approximately 5ft 8ins tall, with black hair. He was wearing a high-visibility jacket and dark trousers.

The second incident also happened during the day on Saturday (28/9) at an address in central Oxford.
No bank details or bank cards were taken from the elderly victim.

The third incident occurred at about 10pm on Monday (30/9) at an address in Summertown, Oxford.
The victim, an 86-year-old woman, had two bank cards taken. Unsuccessful attempts were later made to withdraw money with the bank cards in central Oxford.

The offender is an Asian man, about 25-years-old, of slim build. He was wearing dark clothing.

These incidents are being linked to another offence in Hambleden area, Buckinghamshire, near Henley, on 15 September.

The victim, an 89-year-old woman, had jewellery and three bank cards stolen during the incident.
The bank cards were then used the same day in the Henley area (15/9).

The offender, who collected the bank cards and jewellery, was a white man, of slim build, about 5ft 8ins tall, in his mid-twenties, with short dark hair. He was dressed in a dark suit.

If you any other information about these offences please contact Sgt Phil Bennett via the Thames Valley Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

If you believe you have been a victim of a similar offence, please contact the police.
If you do receive a call which you suspect is not genuine and they ask you to call your bank, make sure that after you hang up, that you hear a dialling tone before contacting the police, or use a mobile phone if appropriate.

If you don't want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.