Investigation launched into Mid Calder fraud report

Detectives in West Lothian are appealing for information and further reports following a fraud in Mid Calder, which was reported on Thursday, 5 May.

A local couple from the Westgate area received multiple phone calls in the preceding days from a man with an English accent, identifying himself as a bank employee, advising that there had been unauthorised movement on their debit card.

The called told them to withdraw a low five-figure sum from their bank account and to hand it to a fellow employee, who would attend their address and take it for examination.

Following a similar request on 5 May, asking the couple to directly transfer a further five-figure sum to a named account, the matter was reported to police.

Extensive enquiries into the fraud are ongoing and officers will be providing safety advice to the victims and members of the local community.

They are also keen to speak with any witnesses who believe they may have seen a suspicious man in the Westgate area between 7pm and 9pm on Wednesday, 4 May. He is described as being white, aged 20s, around 5ft 7 and slim build, speaking with a Scottish accent, wearing a white shirt, black trousers and a blue face mask.

Detective Constable Jennifer Rogers, from Livingston CID, said: “Fraudsters are consistently devious in the ways they find to undermine your confidence and force you to place your trust in what they’re saying.

“The couple in this case will sadly be far from the only such victims and we are keen to hear from any other members of the community who have been similarly targeted in the same way.

“We are carrying out an investigation into this incident and are appealing for anyone with information to please call 101, quoting incident 1972 of 5 May. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, if you wish to remain anonymous.”