Thieves stole thousands of pounds by using fake bank accounts

Police are investigating reports of people having their post stolen in Stanley, Netherton and Agbrigg.

Criminals stole account numbers, addresses and phone numbers from the letters.

The details were then used to set up fake accounts in the victims’ names and loans and credit cards were taken out.

Three people have fallen victim to the scam in Wakefield, as well as another person in Leeds.

Two men, aged 37 and 41, from Leeds have been arrested on suspicion of postal theft and have been bailed pending further enquiries.

And police are now appealing for victims of postal fraud to come forward.

Insp Ian Williams, of the Wakefield Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Officers are currently conducting enquiries into this alleged scam and we have identified potential victims who have had credit cards or even accounts set up in their name of which they have no knowledge.

“It is believed amounts totalling several thousand pounds could have been defrauded so far.

“We do believe there may be other victims out there and I would ask anyone who has had large amounts of post going missing lately, particularly bank statements in Agbrigg, Netherton and Stanley, to come forward.”

Anyone who has had a bank account or loan taken out in their names without their knowledge should call Wakefield NPT on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.