A HOLMFIRTH pensioner became the victim of a competition scam.
She paid out money to a bogus caller after being told she had won a prize.
Now police are warning vulnerable people across Kirklees to be on their guard.
They are urging people to be careful and not to give bank details over the phone, following the report from Holmfirth of a lottery scam.
Officers have been carrying out inquiries with banks into the reported scam in which an elderly woman was contacted over the phone by a ‘prize organisation’ in February and told she had won a cash prize but needed to send an administration fee by cheque.
The victim did so and more demands for money followed. Fortunately the victim’s daughter became aware of the payments and was able to put a stop to further money being paid.
Pc Anne Gilliver, of Holmfirth Police, said: “Sadly these hoax and scam calls do take place occasionally, and we would advise residents to be vigilant.
“It can be easy to be fooled by these callers who can be persuasive especially to elderly and vulnerable victims, but sadly it really is a case of if something is to good to be true, it will be.”
She added: “Genuine competitions would not ask for payment before releasing prizes and any that do are likely to be a hoax.
“It also does remain the case that if you have not entered a competition but are told you have won something, then it is extremely likely the matter is a scam.”
