Urging the public to be vigilant after a scam was reported

We are urging the public to be vigilant after a scam was reported involving offenders calling a woman claiming to be police and requesting she purchase gift cards.

The offender had suggested the victim’s national insurance number had been compromised and that she needed to purchase the gift cards and send photographs of them, before falsely claiming the police will then reimburse the victim.

The victim grew suspicious, reported the incident and has been fully reimbursed by her bank.

Merseyside Police will never contact members of the public and ask for payment in this way, and police enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

Anyone who has received a similar call is advised to report it to police on Twitter by direct messaging @MerPolCC quoting incident 441 of 24 January, or call @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111 or @actionfrauduk on 0300 123 2040.