A hit list containing the names of thousands of targets is being traded among the UK’s criminal underworld.
We can reveal that a “suckers list” featuring highly sensitive information has been discovered following raids by the Metropolitan Police.
Almost 3,000 local people are identified as easy targets and it is feared that many more may yet be added to their number.
The list contains names and addresses and has already been used to rob and scam some people out of their life savings.
Intelligence gathered as part of a nationwide operation suggests that each person on the list has “almost certainly” fallen prey to fraudsters and scam artists.
In Tayside and Fife alone, single victims have already lost more than £150,000, with councils notified of a string of individuals who have been targeted repeatedly.
Urgent efforts are being made to contact every person on the list in a bid to fight the rising wave of fraudulent schemes.
Local authorities, trading standards officers and Police Scotland are all cooperating with the National Scams Hub to tackle the illegal activity.
In some cases, adult protection teams and social services have also been drafted in.
Last year, Angus Council launched a zero tolerance campaign and became the first in Scotland to adopt a formal policy onfinancial harm.
Throughout Tayside, Fife, Forth Valley and Aberdeenshire, a total of 2,974 “targets” have been identified and experts suggest many more are at risk.
One individual in Fife, who was fleeced out of more than £100,000 by scammers, is receiving support from a number of sources as they attempt to recover from the devastating loss.
Another Fifer had even been induced into setting up direct debits to a group of heartless scammers.
In Perth and Kinross, similar support is being offered to a resident thought to have lost as much as £52,000.
Trading standards officers also had to intervene when a woman was preparing to send a large amount of money to a con artist who claimed to offer a financial reward.
While the discovery of the “suckers list” may prevent some people from beingswindled any further, many are unlikely to be able to recover their losses.
In a shocking revelation, made by Police Scotland, it has been revealed that extra security measures introduced by banks to thwart criminals have already proved vulnerable.
Officers have launched an investigation in Perth after an attempt was made to steal £8,500 from an account using a portable card reader, which is meant to provide an extra level of safety for online transactions.
Roseanna Cunningham, the Scottish Government’s community safety minister described the scammers as “utterlycontemptible”.
She said: “The people they target are often among the most vulnerable in our society, folk who can least afford to be swindled out of their cash.”How to protect yourselfPeople have found their way on to the “suckers list” just by responding to communications from scam artists.
Fife Council trading standards officer Geoff Bates said that replying to a dodgy email once can be enough to become a target.
Scammers sell the information on to other conartists who use it tobombard victims with fake competitions, pleas for help and lotteries.
Mr Bates said: “The ‘suckers list’ tends to be people who have already been scammed and they tend to be a particular type of person.
“What we find is that when we go to see one of the victims, they have been sent lots of letters by scammers.
“The more they reply to them, the more they receive, so it all builds up.”
He gave guidance on the best way to avoid falling victim to scammers:Always stop and think twice.“Just because someone offers you this huge bargain doesn’t mean you have to go for it straight away. Stop and think, research it and check it out. When you go shopping, you shop around for price, so why should it be any different if someone contacts you by telephone, post or email?” Never give away personal details.“Don’t give anyone your bank account or credit card details. That is veryimportant.” Report any suspicious behaviour.“If you believe something isn’t genuine, or have any doubts at all then back away and tell someone.If you can take a note of their telephone number or any details at all, report it to Action Fraud or theCitizens’ Advice consumer helpline.“Any information you can provide is quitevaluable.”Councils are also working to tackle scams, contacting those on the “sucker list” to provide support, and in Fife they are working with Royal Mail to clamp down on any fraudulent mail schemes. Victims can lose thousandsJust two weeks ago, two pensioners from Montrose fell victim to a phone scam.
They were robbed of £40,000 after getting caught up in a “vishing” con, which is when a fraudster makes a phone call posing as a bank representative.
The 68-year-old man and 75-year-old woman were duped into transferring funds into a new account after being told theirold bank account anddebit cards had beencompromised.
As part of the scam, gangs posing as police or bank employees call people at home to advise them there has been a fraudulent incident and to ring their bank.
The criminals do not hang up, however, so when their victims try to ring out, they are still connected to the con artist.
Earlier this year a 92-year-old fromKirriemuir was approached by a fraudster who claimed to be carrying out work on her roof.
The man quoted her large sums of money for the work and tried to persuade the woman to hand over asignificant deposit.
Fortunately, no money changed hands, but police issued a warning to locals.
Anyone with any concerns about suspicious cold callers is urged to call 101.