Police phone scam warning

GAINSBOROUGH and Lincolnshire residents are being warned about a new phone scam that has swept the county - where criminals pose as Ministry of Justice officials.

Police say that the caller informs the victim that they are owed a large amount of cash from a historic loan that was taken out with inappropriately sold insurance.

“The caller is told they need to buy a £150 ‘U-Cash’ voucher from their local Co-Op and that it will act as a deposit or payment for compensation service,” said a Lincs Police spokesman.

“The victim is then told that someone will collect the voucher in exchange for their cash.”

“In a follow-up call the victim is told that the person collecting the voucher cannot make the visit and they are asked for the voucher code – enabling the offender to access and steal the cash.”

They added: “We would strongly encourage anyone receiving a call of this nature to put the phone down and report it to ourselves as soon as possible.”

Anyone with any information or who has received such a call can contact Lincolnshire Police on 0300 111 0300, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.