Press release -
Bradford postmaster couple prevent customer being scammed out of £1,300 - coinciding with 20 years' service
- Postmaster stops customer being scammed out of £1,300
- David & Sam Carr have run their Bradford branch since 2006
- Couple had spotted the scam as area manager arrived to present 20 years’ long service award
A quick-thinking Bradford postmaster foiled a customer being scammed for £1,300 for a mobile phone fraudulently taken out in the pensioner’s name.
David and Sam Carr have run Harrogate Road Post Office on Wharncliffe Drive, Bradford, since 2006. Sam became suspicious when one of her regular elderly customers came in to post a mobile phone.
The kind-hearted postmaster then chatted further with the customer, who was on the phone to someone at the same time who was giving her instructions of what to do.
Sam discovered that the customer had order a new sim card for her phone from her provider, but a new phone turned up instead.
Sam believed that a fraud had been committed with someone using the customer’s identity to order a phone.
The customer had been given a fake number for customer services. As part of the rouse, the person she spoke to, sent her a pre-paid QR code to return the phone, which actually would have gone to a scammer
Sam was busy assisting her “overwhelmed” customer, when Post Office Area Manager, Peter Ackroyd, arrived to present the couple with their 20 Years’ Long Service Award.
David continued to serve other customers served whilst Sam supported the customer. Meanwhile, Peter contacted the fraud department of the mobile phone company on behalf of the customer.
Between them, they tackle the fraud and prevent the phone being sent to a scammer. Peter got the genuine address and pre-paid label to safely return the phone. They involved the police as they had the address where scammers would have received the parcel.
Post Office Area Manager, Peter Ackroyd, said: “I was already visiting David and Sam to present them with their Post Office Long Service Award. They run a 1st class branch, and I had wanted to thank them in person for being at the heart of their community.
“When I walked into Harrogate Road branch David and Sam were being really supportive and caring to a very upset customer. Thankfully they had spotted warning signs that the customer was being scammed.
“People who work in post offices do training to help to detect crime. David and Sam took the time to ask the customer the right questions in a kind and supportive way and prevented the customer being duped. Between us, we were able to combat the crime.
“The priority was to assist the customer, and an hour later I was able to present David and Sam with their Post Office 20 Years’ Long Service Award. I’m very proud of Sam and David foiling the scammer and for really looking out for their customers.”
Postmaster Sam Carr, said: “It was perfect timing with Peter, my Area Manager arriving, as it took a long time to get everything fully sorted. Peter does deserve lots of credit too for his fast thinking and getting the mobile phone company to take action so that the pensioner was not out of pocket and the matter was sorted.
“Peter also spoke to the scammer, who was still trying to persuade the pensioner that the return address was genuine, but he gave the scammer a right earful and how he knew that this was a scam.
“Other customers were very kind too. The shop is in a community and people know each other. Lots of people were asking us and the elderly customer if everything was OK, and they offered to pop by to see her later, as they knew her. The community rallied round. It’s a really good, caring community here, which is why we have been very happy working here for 20 years.”
Sam and David are used to drama, but of a different kind. They have been involved with Drama Unlimited, a Bradford amateur dramatic group for 10 years.
This society is celebrating its 50thanniversary this year and to mark the occasion they recently gave away over 200 free tickets to the Goldilocks pantomime that David was directing, whilst Sam was front of house and their daughter, Sarah was playing Goldilocks.
The customer who was nearly scammed was one of 50 local residents who attend a local community centre who chose to give her the free ticket. The company also donated tickets to other local charities supporting people who would never get to experience live theatre as they are excluded through either social or socioeconomic reasons. Sam and David are also proud to have helped Drama Unlimited stage the first ever amateur “relaxed performance” in the Yorkshire area.
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- With over 11,500 branches, Post Office has the biggest retail network in the UK, with more branches than all the banks and building societies combined.
- Post Office is helping anyone who wants cash to get it whichever way is most convenient. Partnership with over 30 banks, building societies and credit unions means that 99% of UK bank customers can access their accounts at their Post Office.
- Cash withdrawals, deposits and balance enquiries can be made securely and conveniently over the counter at any Post Office; and the biggest investment by any organisation or company in the last decade is being made to safeguard 1,400 free-to-use ATMs across the UK.
- Post Office is simplifying its proposition for Postmasters with a focus on its cash and banking; mails and parcels; foreign exchange; and; bill payments services.
- Research has found that visits to the Post Office help drive another 400 million visitors to other shops, restaurants and local businesses equating to an estimated £1.1 billion in additional revenue for High Street businesses.
- 99.7% of the population live within three miles of a Post Office; and 4,000 branches are open seven days a week.
