🚨 Courier Fraud Losses Pass £21 Million — Over-70s Most at Risk

Sunday, 16 August 2026

New national figures show courier fraud is still one of the most damaging scams in Britain — more than £21 million was stolen in 2025, and the people being targeted are overwhelmingly our parents and grandparents.

What happened

City of London Police, the national lead force for fraud, said reports of courier fraud rose by nearly 10% in a year — from 1,721 in 2024 to 1,891 in 2025. Losses climbed from £19.5 million to more than £21 million, and the average victim lost £15,311.08.

The figures also reveal who is being hit: people aged between 76 and 96 made up around 62% of all reports. Police forces and local alert schemes across the UK are now re-issuing warnings to families to have the conversation before the fraudsters make the call.

How the scam works

  1. The call. A fraudster phones, pretending to be from your bank, the police, or a card company — often spoofing a genuine-looking number.
  2. The story. They claim fraud has been spotted on your account, or that you can help with an investigation. You're told to stay on the line and keep it secret.
  3. The instructions. Victims are asked to withdraw cash, hand over bank cards and PINs — or, increasingly, to buy expensive items like gold and jewellery.
  4. The courier. A fake courier arrives at the door to collect the cash, cards, jewellery or valuables. Anything handed over is gone for good.

Police warn that a growing trend in 2025 involved victims being persuaded to visit jewellers and buy expensive items — sometimes over a period of time — before handing them to a courier. Offenders often keep in contact, pressuring victims for more.

Detective Superintendent Ollie Little, from City of London Police, said: "It's vital that people know the warning signs and feel empowered to stop, question and verify before taking any action."

The one rule that keeps you safe

Your bank and the police will NEVER send a courier to your door to collect your card, cash, PIN, jewellery or valuables — and they will never ask you to move money to a "safe account". Hang up. Always.

If anyone calls claiming to be your bank or the police and asks you to hand over anything:

  • Hang up immediately — do not stay on the line, and wait at least five minutes before making another call.
  • Call the organisation back on a number you know is genuine — the number on the back of your bank card, or an official website.
  • Or call 159 — the free UK service that puts you straight through to your bank's real fraud team.
  • Never give your PIN to anyone, for any reason. Ever.
  • Don't trust caller ID — fraudsters can make any number appear on your screen.
  • Report suspicious calls by texting 7726 with the word "Call" followed by the caller's number.

What to do if someone you love has been targeted

  • If a fraud is happening right now and a suspect is at the scene, call 999.
  • Contact their bank immediately to freeze cards and flag the account.
  • Report it to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or online at reportfraud.police.uk.
  • Talk to them kindly — victims aren't stupid, they were manipulated by professionals who practise this every day.

Share this warning

Courier fraud thrives on secrecy and shame. Forward this to an older relative or neighbour today — one conversation can stop a fraud before it starts.

— CyberAware UK · 🐾 GUARDED BY BULLY — DIGITAL THREAT RESPONSE UNIT