More than £200,000 stolen from Northamptonshire courier fraud victims in 2025, figures reveal as warning issued by police

The figures from the City of London Police, the National Lead Force for Fraud show there were 229 reports of courier fraud during 2025, resulting in the loss of more than £229,704.22

This has prompted officers from the county’s Economic Crime Unit to remind people to be vigilant when it comes to any type of fraud.

Northamptonshire Police’s Fraud Protect Officer, Detective Constable Jo Barlow of the Economic Crime Unit, said: “Our advice to anyone asked to provide personal or financial information, is to take a few moments to reflect on the situation and stay calm. Never assume a phone call is genuine, even if the caller knows basic details about you, such as your name and address.

“Criminals can make any telephone number appear on your phone handset, so even if the number shown seems authentic, never trust this. So, if you receive a phone call of this type, have the confidence to end it.

“A genuine organisation will never mind you taking the time to think things over or to contact them back on a number you have verified, for example from your bank statement or payment card.

“If the caller is claiming to be a police officer, the relevant force can be contacted on 101 and will be able to verify if a caller is a genuine officer or member of staff.”

Fraudsters often deliberately focus on older victims, exploiting trust in institutions such as the police and banks, as well as using pressure tactics, fear, and urgency to manipulate them into complying with instructions.

According to police, a growing trend identified in 2025 involves the use of jewellery and gold to conduct high-value frauds. In many cases, victims are persuaded to visit multiple jewellers to purchase expensive items over a period before handing them to a courier.

How to spot the signs of courier fraud

• Courier fraud typically begins with an unexpected phone call from someone claiming to be a police officer or bank employee.
• Victims are told their account is at risk or that they are assisting with an investigation, before being instructed to withdraw money, purchase items, or disclose sensitive information.
• A courier is then sent to collect the items such as jewellery, cash, bank cards, and PINs. In reality, this is the work of criminals, and anything handed over is lost.

How to protect yourself from courier fraud

• Your bank or the police will never ask you to transfer money to a safe account
• Your bank or the police will never send a courier to your home to collect bank cards, cash, or other valuables such as jewellery
• Contact the organisation directly using contact details you know are correct, such as those on official websites, the back of your card or by calling 159 for your bank
• Do not trust the Caller ID display on your phone - it is not proof of ID

You can report suspected scam calls by sending a text to 7726 with the word ‘Call’ followed by the caller’s number.

If you think you have been a victim of fraud, contact Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via the website: reportfraud.police.uk.