Scam alert: Courier fraud

Protecting yourself against courier fraud

Courier fraud is a sophisticated scam where criminals pose as trusted organisations, such as banks or the police, to persuade individuals to hand over money, bank cards, PINs or valuable possessions.

These scams are designed to create panic and urgency. Fraudsters often convince victims that their account has been compromised, that their money is at risk or that they are assisting with a confidential police investigation. In reality, the sole aim is to gain the victim’s trust and steal their money or valuables. 

Weatherbys will never ask you to withdraw cash, purchase valuables, transfer funds to a ‘safe account’, disclose your PIN or hand your bank card, cash or valuables to a courier. 

How courier fraud typically unfolds:

  • The scam often begins with an unexpected telephone call from someone claiming to be from your bank or the police. The caller may state fraudulent activity has been detected on your account, that someone has been arrested using your personal details or that your funds need to be protected. 
  • To make the situation appear genuine, fraudsters use convincing language and may pressure you to act quickly. In some cases, they claim to be investigating a corrupt bank employee and ask for your assistance as part of a confidential operation. 
  • A common scenario involves criminals claiming your bank card has been compromised or used fraudulently. You are then instructed to keep the matter confidential and are persuaded to disclose your PIN over the phone or enter it into your telephone keypad. 
  • The fraudster then arranges for a courier to collect the bank card from your address, claiming it is required for investigation, cancellation or secure destruction. Once in possession of both the card and PIN, criminals can quickly withdraw cash or make purchases from your account. 
  • Fraudsters may also instruct you to withdraw cash from your account or purchase high-value items such as gold, jewellery, foreign currency, luxury goods or cryptocurrency. They will then arrange for a courier to collect the cash or items, claiming they are required as evidence or for safekeeping. In reality, the courier is being used to transfer your money or valuables directly to fraudsters. 
  • Another common variation involves persuading you that your funds need to be moved to a ‘safe account’. These accounts are controlled by the scammers, who then steal the money once you have made the transfer. 

How to protect yourself

Please remember: 

  • Weatherbys will never ask you to disclose your PIN, passwords, Transaction PIN (TPIN) or one-time passcodes (OTPs). 
  • Weatherbys will never ask you to transfer money to a ‘safe account’. 
  • Weatherbys will never arrange for a courier to collect your bank card, cash or valuables. 
  • The police will never ask you to withdraw money, purchase goods or participate in an investigation by handing items to a courier. 
  • Caller ID can be falsified and should not be relied upon as proof of identity. 

What to do if you receive a call that feels unexpected, urgent or unusual

To ensure your safety:  

  • End the call immediately. 
  • Do not follow any instructions. 
  • Do not disclose your PIN or security credentials.  
  • Do not hand over your bank card, cash or valuables.  
  • Do not withdraw funds or purchase items. 
  • Contact Weatherbys directly using a trusted phone number from our official website or the back of your debit card. 

 

If you think you have been a victim of this type of scam, please speak to your private banking team or Relationship Manager in the first instance. You can also contact the Private Bank on +44 (0) 1933 543 600 or the Racing Bank on +44 (0) 1933 543 543. 

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