Alert for bogus detective (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Alert for bogus detective

PETROL station bosses in South Worcestershire were warned to be on the alert this week after a bogus policemen tried to obtain confidential information.

Posing as a detective investigating credit card fraud, the man telephoned three petrol stations on Tuesday, one in Evesham and two in Malvern, asking them to help in inquiries with credit card scams.

The man, who called himself DS Bryant from West Mercia, spoke with a Scottish accent.

Police spokesman Mike Vockins said there was no DS Bryant on the force and added: "Investigations of this kind would be carried out only by officers who formally identify themselves, and we would not seek to collate detailed information of this kind over the phone."

He added: "We would wish to hear immediately from any other garage which receives an approach of this kind, and if any member of the local community has doubts about the validity of someone claiming to be a police officer, they should check with South Worcestershire divisional headquarters by telephoning 08457 444 888."

The Evesham garage involved was the Esso garage in Cheltenham Road.