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An update on Watford delivery scams

An update on Watford delivery scams

An update on Watford delivery scams

Last week we reported that Hertfordshire Constabulary had issued a warning to Watford residents regarding a number of delivery scams, they have now issued further updates.

Three people have now been arrested in relation to delivery scams operating in Watford.

A 32 year old man from Peckham, a 32 year old man from New Cross and a 31 year old woman, also from Peckham, were arrested in connection with nine fraud offences.

They have since been released under investigation whilst enquiries continue.

The fraud involved victims across the county receiving packages that were addressed to them but containing items that they had not ordered.

A short while later a courier arrived to collect the packages, claiming they had been delivered to the wrong address. In most cases the packages contained either iPhones or laptops despatched by AO.

The arrests came after a resident from Stevenage received two packages from AO and a short while later received a call from a fraudster explaining there had been a mistake and that he would come by the victims address to collect the package.

The victim had previously seen a message about the scam on Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Online Watch System (OWL) and called the police prior to the suspect attended.

Police attended the scene and arrested one man. A man and woman were arrested in Kent after a vehicle linked to the offences was stopped by police.

Detective Chief Inspector Sam Khanna, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Serious Fraud and Cyber Unit said:

“If goods are delivered that you have not ordered and are marked with your name and address, you should inform the company that sent it and wait for them to send a courier. Always check with them which courier company is making the collection and when they will arrive.

“If someone knocks on the door claiming to have come to pick it up after it was delivered by mistake, think twice about handing it over. Are they from the same company that just delivered it? Can you see a company vehicle? Just because they are in a uniform does not mean they are from the company as they claim.

“If someone tries to deliver a parcel you’ve not ordered, refuse to accept it so that it goes back to the depot or the sender. If you have handed a parcel over please report it to Action Fraud. If someone is at your door claiming to have come to pick up a parcel you never ordered ring 999.”

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