Doorstep scam warning following fraud report in Barnsley

We are urging families and friends of those vulnerable to fraud to share some advice around doorstep scams following an incident reported to us earlier this week.

On 7 May we received reports that a man in Barnsley had been visited by two unknown people claiming to be social workers. The fraudsters gained access to the house and convinced the man that he owed some money.

The pair then took the man, who was in his 50s, to a nearby cashpoint where he withdrew £550 before the fraudsters took the money and left.

Following this incident our fraud team are sharing some advice which we recommend sharing with your loved ones - especially those who might be susceptible to this form of fraud.

Charlotte Platts, Fraud Protect Officer, said:

"Doorstep scams can happen in many forms - they can be door-to-door sales people, someone pretending to be a trader or, in this case, pretending to be someone from an authority.

"They aren't always pushy and may come across as polite - but this doesn't always mean you can trust them.

"Unfortunately, we know that doorstep fraudsters often look to prey on the goodwill of elderly people within our local communities. Please share the below tips to ensure your grandparent, parent, friend or neighbour doesn't fall victim to this scam."

Remember you don't have to open the door to people you don't know. If you do open the door to a stranger we recommend following four steps: Stop, Lock, Chain and Check.

• Stop: Are you expecting anyone?
• Lock: If not, lock any other outer doors before answering the front door as sometimes scammers will work together.
• Chain: Put the door chain on - but remember to take it off again if people with a key, such as a carer, need to be able to get in. Look through the peep hole to see who's there.
• Check: As for an identity card and examine it carefully. If you still aren't sure, don't be afraid to phone the company / authority the person says they are from. Don't worry about leaving someone waiting, if they are who they say they are, they won't mind. If you are being pressured or feel unsafe, contact friends, family or the police.

If you've been scammed on your doorstep, there's support available:

• Action Fraud: If you suspect that you've been scammed, report it to Action Fraud either over the phone or via their website.
• Citizens Advice: contact them if you've been scammed on your doorstep and they'll pass your report onto Trading Standards.

Call 999 to speak to the police in an emergency, or 101 if you're not in immediate danger and want to report the incident.