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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
As told to Rosie Mullender

I lost £25,000 to a scam – after a call from the ‘crime agency’

Police HMRC WhatsApp
Digital communication. Laptop and mobile phone.
Scammers often use authentic-looking phone numbers to persuade their victims to transfer money. Photograph: Tek Image/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF

‘I know my story sounds ridiculous’, says Amy**, 30, from Derbyshire. ‘But this is how fraudsters target the likes of you and me’

I was about to go for a run when my phone rang. I don’t usually answer unknown numbers, but this was in June 2021 and my partner – now my husband – and I had just moved, so we were sorting out things like direct debits. I thought I’d better answer the call.

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