‘Even I am not sure about bank messages’ – police inspector on scams

Helensburgh’s police inspector has admitted that even he is unsure whether to trust communication from his bank, after an outbreak of fraud in recent months.

Inspector Roddy MacNeill told councillors of the scale of the problem, but pledged that officers were trying ‘as best we can’ to fight it.

Some of the fraudulent calls have come from scammers pretending to be from the NHS, requesting a payment for a vaccine against Covid-19.

The inspector gave the update to Argyll and Bute Council’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee yesterday.

He said: “Crime figures remain favourable in Helensburgh and Lomond but one main exception is fraud, which we are trying to address as best we can.

“We are using online and social media warnings and are trying to get education out there that frauds are coming using every method.

“They use phone calls, email and social media and claim to be from organisations such as the DVLA or the NHS to pay for vaccines.

“We are trying to protect against and prevent this, and Inspector Mo Boyle and her officers at Dumbarton are trying to do what they can. We are making some headway.

“But it is certainly a modern issue, as with so many people currently in their houses then fraudsters will get more people picking up the phone than ever.”

Cllr David Kinniburgh urged the inspector to keep putting the anti-fraud message out.

He said: “Some of this is quite disconcerting. I know there is a lot being done through social media, but we really need to push it and get the message out there.

“I have had instances of this, with ‘HMRC’ calling looking for my national insurance number. I also know that there are instances where the ‘Royal Mail’ say there is a package for you and they are looking for a small fee.”

Inspector MacNeill responded: “I totally agree. We will keep our foot on the gas, as it is not going away. If these callers can get their hook into an elderly person they will do it.

“I’m at the stage now where I don’t even know whether to trust [communication from] a bank, and I am pretty well versed in it.”