Merseyside Police has teamed up with forces across the country for Operation Henhouse, a month-long national campaign to tackle fraudsters.
The operation will see officers tracking down offenders and seizing criminal assets through court orders.
Detective Chief Inspector Mike Dalton of Merseyside Police’s Economic Crime Team said: “The vast majority of fraud we investigate is now cyber-enabled, with criminals using increasingly sophisticated methods.
“Our team is working tirelessly to identify these offenders, bring them to justice, and help our communities protect themselves from falling victim.”
In February, Merseyside detectives interviewed eight suspects as part of ongoing investigations into a range of fraud-related offences and charged three others.
Common Frauds in Merseyside
Online shopping fraud remains a major issue, with criminals creating fake websites that appear genuine but never deliver goods. Residents are advised to thoroughly research unfamiliar retailers and use secure payment methods, avoiding bank transfers where possible.
Courier fraud continues to target vulnerable residents, with fraudsters posing as police officers or bank officials claiming they need to collect cards or cash.
DCI Dalton warned: “We want to be clear – no police officer or bank official will ever ask you to withdraw money or hand over cards to a courier.
“If you receive such a call, hang up immediately.”
Romance fraud is also on the rise, with criminals building relationships online before requesting money for supposed emergencies. Residents are urged never to send money to someone they haven’t met in person and to be cautious of anyone asking to keep the relationship secret.
Merseyside Police strongly recommends using unique passwords of at least three random words for every online account and enabling two-step verification (2SV) wherever possible.
These steps make it much more difficult for criminals to access personal information.
Operation Henhouse is a National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) initiative, managed in partnership with the City of London Police, leading the national fight against economic crime.
The operation provides funding for forces to tackle fraudsters and supports the national Stop! Think Fraud campaign.
For comprehensive guidance on reducing the risk of fraud, visit the Stop! Think Fraud website: stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk.
To report suspected fraud, contact Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. Information about fraudsters can be shared anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.
