MORE than £130,000 worth of fraud was prevented in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight as a direct result of the Banking Protocol.

The scheme was introduced in the county in June 2017, with the aim to identify and protect potential victims of fraud when they visit a bank or building society.

This protocol enables branch staff to recognise any signs if someone is in the process of being scammed, and to call the police and get an immediate response.

More than £1.65million has been saved in the Hampshire Constabulary force area since the introduction of the scheme.

Last month, £137,658.94 was saved through the Banking Protocol.

Incidents included: a man who tried to withdraw £11,000 having been contacted by suspected scammers purporting to be police officers, and a suspected romance fraud where a man tried to open a bank account to send money to a woman in Russia.

Detective Sergeant Sarah Dring, from Hampshire Constabulary’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “I’m pleased that each month the scheme continues to safeguard vulnerable victims of crime, and I’d like to thank all bank staff who have followed their fraud loss prevention training and dialled 999.

“Sadly, many of the bank clients involved are not aware that they are potential victims of scammers.

“This scheme means we have a better chance of making sure money doesn’t end up in unscrupulous hands, giving us the opportunity to investigate such incidents, and allowing us to advise often vulnerable people about scams.”

Anyone who suspects they have been a victim of fraud should call the police on 101 or report it direct to Action Fraud by visiting: actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040.