Quick-thinking neighbour helps stop £3k scam against terrified pensioner in Flintshire

A quick-thinking neighbour helped to prevent a terrified 79-year-old woman from being scammed out of thousands of pounds.

The neighbour stepped in and called police after the pensioner informed them they had sent an envelope containing more than £3,000 to an address after it was demanded of her.

The petrified woman, from Flintshire, had been warned she faced arrest unless she sent the cash.

Police and the Royal Mail were able to safely intercept the envelope containing the money and return it to the victim after they were alerted to the crime.

A North Wales Police spokesman said: “The incident happened yesterday, January 29, when a 79-year-old woman from the Flintshire area was contacted over the telephone by fraudsters claiming to be from HM Revenue & Customs.

“They told her that she owed £3,025 and that if she didn’t pay the money immediately she would be arrested.

“The victim was understandably terrified and agreed to pay the money.

“She went to her bank and withdrew the money before placing it in an envelope and sending the package, through her local post office, to an address in London.

“Fortunately, a neighbour realised it was a scam and reported the matter to the police.

“Royal Mail were contacted and the package was intercepted in a delivery depot in London before it reached the criminals and the package was safely returned.”

Detective Constable Rachel Roberts added: “We always encourage family and neighbours to warn vulnerable people about such scams and to keep an eye out for them.

“This is a fantastic example of how working together we can thwart these mean thieves who frighten and prey on their unsuspecting victims.

“The message we need to drive home across the whole community is that HMRC, your bank, utility companies or the police will never ask you to send cash in the post.

“HMRC do occasionally contact people by telephone, but will always have a taxpayers’ reference number and will never contact you by phone about a tax rebate, a penalty or to ask for personal payment details.

“If you get a call asking for payments, bank details or offering rebates simply put the phone down.”

Anyone who thinks they have been the victim of fraud is asked to contact Action Fraud online or call 0300 123 2040.