Elderly people in care homes, retirement villages and assisted living buildings are being targeted by courier fraudsters, a new report has warned.

City of London Police data revealed the UK’s senior population lost over £12.6 million last year to courier fraudsters.

Detective chief inspector Lee Parish, from the Fraud Operations team at City of London Police, said: “Courier fraud is a devastating crime that preys on vulnerable and often older people. Millions of pounds of hard-earned pensions and savings are being stolen each year and we are concentrating efforts to stop courier fraud at the source.

“We’ve seen a growing trend of courier fraud taking place in and around retirement villages, care homes and assisted living accommodation. We’re asking family members and staff supporting older people across the UK to be vigilant, especially for incoming phone calls to residents, couriers arriving by motorbike or taxi and to any visitors who unexpectedly arrive.

“Banks or police officers will never send a courier to pick up cash, bank cards or pin codes from individuals and we would encourage anyone who thinks they are being targeted to report it using Action Fraud and also reporting separately to their bank. If there is a crime currently taking place, you should always call 999.”

In the last year (May 2022 to May 2023), 1,587 reports of courier fraud were made by people over the age of 70 across the UK. There were a total of 1,847 reports of courier fraud.

The top areas, where 43% of all reports were received from victims, were Greater London, Surrey, Sussex, Thames Valley and Hampshire police areas.

If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040, or call Police Scotland on 101.