International Student Scammed £200k by Fake Police in Belfast
In a shocking incident, an international student studying in Belfast has fallen victim to a scam, losing a staggering £200,000. The student, originally from China, was deceived by fraudsters who tricked her into believing that she was about to be arrested. This distressing scam serves as a reminder of the importance of being vigilant and aware of potential fraudulent activities.
The deception began when the student received a phone call informing her that she was suspected of involvement in money laundering. To add to the ruse, two individuals posed as ‘Beijing Police’ and even went so far as to dress up in police uniforms. They threatened the student with arrest unless she paid £200,000.
Tragically, after transferring the funds, the woman never heard from the scammers again. This incident has prompted the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to condemn the criminals and urge individuals to be cautious. Alarmingly, last year, the PSNI received two similar reports of fraudsters targeting Chinese students in Belfast, resulting in a total loss of £105,000. In those instances, the scammers posed as representatives of the ‘Chinese Embassy’ and the ‘Chinese police’.
Detective Superintendent Richard Thornton spoke out about this appalling crime, labeling it as a despicable, calculated act. The scammers went to extreme lengths to appear genuine, even dressing in uniforms resembling those of the Beijing Police. However, they were nothing but fraudulent individuals preying on innocent victims. Detective Superintendent Thornton emphasized the significance of being scam aware to prevent falling victim to such crimes.
To help people protect themselves from scams, the PSNI has issued guidance containing essential precautions:
1. Always hang up immediately when receiving suspicious calls.
2. Delete any text messages requesting personal information or bank account details.
3. Never call back the number from which the scam call originated.
4. Refrain from clicking on links or responding to unsolicited texts.
5. Never transfer money to another account, especially when contacted by unknown individuals. Hang up immediately.
If anyone has been a victim of a scam, it is crucial to report the incident to the police, their bank, or utilize resources such as www.actionfraud.police.uk or the helpline 0300 123 2040. Valuable information and advice can also be found on http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/scamwiseni or the ScamwiseNI Facebook page @scamwiseni.
This distressing case highlights the need for heightened awareness and precautionary measures to combat scams effectively. By staying informed and being cautious, individuals can protect themselves and their finances from falling into the hands of fraudsters.
