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A couple from Kent has shared their distressing ordeal after losing nearly £30,000 to scammers impersonating police officers. Wendy and Ken, residents near Canterbury, detailed how the scam began with a phone call from someone posing as a detective constable. The caller claimed that an individual had been detained for attempting to use their bank card fraudulently in London. Following this, Wendy, aged 81, received another call from a person pretending to be a detective sergeant, who said there was an ongoing police investigation into fraudulent activities at their local bank.
Over several days, Wendy was persuaded to withdraw large sums of cash and hand the money to a courier dispatched to a location close to their home. Kent Police revealed that six victims have reported being targeted by this type of courier fraud, with four of them collectively losing £76,000. Wendy and Ken, speaking out to caution others, emphasized the convincing nature of the scammers, who pretended to represent the Metropolitan Police. Wendy explained, “We thought we were helping to stop what he was saying was this little gang working within Canterbury trying to steal people’s money.”
The moment the couple realised the deceit came when the scammers arranged to visit them on a Saturday to take a formal statement, but failed to appear at the agreed time. “He gave us a time and we waited and it went by, and we thought we’d been had,” Wendy remarked. The emotional toll of the scam has been severe for the pair. Wendy described it as “absolutely terrifying,” adding that the stress has weighed heavily on both of them ever since. “We were used so blatantly. It was horrifying. I can’t believe they could sleep easy at night knowing what they are doing,” she said. Ken, 86, admitted he was also duped despite his familiarity with scam calls, expressing regret: “I can’t believe I’ve gone along with it and this is what hurts more than ever.” The scammers also discouraged them from informing their family, with Ken explaining, “In a way you don’t want them stressed and you don’t want them, in trying to help, to make things worse. We’ll solve it ourselves.”
Detective Constable James Burr of Kent Police described courier fraud as a scam where criminals pose as police or bank officials, falsely claiming fraudulent use of the victim’s bank card. He outlined how the perpetrators often sound convincing, sometimes confirming personal details obtained through other means. The scammers might instruct victims to call their bank using a number they provide or to verify the call by dialing the police directly. However, the fraudsters manipulate the call so that the line remains connected to them or their accomplices. They then arrange for a courier to collect the victim’s bank card from their home, which is subsequently used to make unauthorized transactions.
Kent Police revealed that these scammers tend to focus on one locality before moving to a new town or city, with Canterbury targeted for around a week in this instance. Det Con Burr emphasized the vulnerability of elderly individuals due to their inherent trust in the police, which scammers exploit by using fake police credentials. Authorities advise the public that neither banks nor police officers would ever ask for a PIN number or send couriers to collect cash or cards. In connection with the investigation, a 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and released on bail pending further inquiries. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police has reported a 46% drop in courier fraud offenses since launching a dedicated operation in February 2025 aimed at curbing these scams
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