An alert Uber driver has prevented a courier fraud scam targeting a pensioner, saving her £6,000 after becoming suspicious when package collection details were suddenly changed during his journey.
Police are warning residents to remain vigilant following the incident after the taxi driver contacted authorities on Wednesday 11 June at 6.30pm.
The driver had initially accepted a booking to collect documents from Winchester and transport them to London earlier that day.
After collecting two parcels from a woman at the Winchester location, the passenger altered the destination to a Watford car park.
Upon arrival, a man with a partially concealed face approached the vehicle and provided a name unconnected to the original booking.
The suspicious driver refused to surrender the packages and warned he would contact police, prompting the man to flee the car park.
Returning to Hampshire, the driver alerted officers and handed over the packages containing £6,000 cash and bank cards.
Police enquiries revealed the victim, a woman in her seventies, had been contacted at midday by someone claiming to be a police officer investigating bank fraud.
The caller convinced her that her card had been duplicated and persuaded her to participate in a covert investigation by withdrawing £6,000 from her account. She was instructed to provide false reasons for the withdrawal to avoid alerting bank personnel, then package the cash and cards for an ‘evidence collector’.
The woman later grew suspicious and contacted her banks to freeze the accounts.
Hampshire Police report a significant rise in similar fraud cases throughout June, with investigations continuing.
Detective Constable Mike Dumbleton from Hampshire & Isle of Wight’s Economic Crime Investigation Team praised the driver’s actions.
“The driver acted correctly by trusting his instincts and reporting his concerns, preventing the victim from losing £6,000,” he said.
“Though this differs from typical courier fraud methods, we urge private hire drivers to recognise such scams when asked to transport packages. Remain suspicious, particularly when collecting from elderly or vulnerable individuals.”
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DC Dumbleton explained that courier fraud typically involves criminals posing as bank representatives, police, or law enforcement officials who target older people to obtain financial details or arrange money collection as part of fabricated investigations.
“Legitimate police officers, banks or organisations never contact people requesting money withdrawals or financial information disclosure. Anyone receiving such calls should hang up immediately as it will be fraudulent,” he added.
Fraud victims should contact police on 101, or dial 999 for crimes in progress.
