Post Office: Woman saved from being scammed £1,300

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/ ... y-scammed/

A POSTMASTER has been praised for stopping a scam that could have cost a customer £1,300.

Sam Carr, who runs the Harrogate Road Post Office in Bradford with husband David, became suspicious when an elderly customer tried to post a mobile phone and appeared to be following instructions from someone else.

Together with Post Office area manager Peter Ackroyd, they revealed the customer had been the victim of identity fraud, with a scammer ordering a mobile phone in her name and sending her a fake pre-paid QR code to "return" the handset.

Scammer given a 'right earful'
Mrs Carr said: "It was perfect timing with Peter, my area manager arriving, as it took a long time to get everything fully sorted.

"Peter does deserve lots of credit too for his fast thinking and getting the mobile phone company to take action so that the pensioner was not out of pocket and the matter was sorted.

"Peter also spoke to the scammer, who was still trying to persuade the pensioner that the return address was genuine, but he gave the scammer a right earful and how he knew that this was a scam."

'They run a 1st-class branch'
The phone would have been sent directly to the scammer had it not been for the intervention.

While Mrs Carr assisted the distressed customer, Mr Ackroyd contacted the fraud department of the mobile phone company to ensure the device was returned safely.

The scam came to light as Mr Ackroyd was visiting the branch to present the couple with a Post Office 20 Years’ Long Service Award.

Mr Ackroyd said: "I was already visiting David and Sam to present them with their Post Office Long Service Award.

"They run a 1st-class branch, and I had wanted to thank them in person for being at the heart of their community.

"Thankfully, they had spotted warning signs that the customer was being scammed.

"The priority was to assist the customer, and an hour later, I was able to present David and Sam with their Post Office 20 Years’ Long Service Award.

"I’m very proud of Sam and David for foiling the scammer and for really looking out for their customers."