PEOPLE in Keighley who have lost money to fraudsters face the likelihood of being targeted again.

That’s the warning from West Yorkshire Police, which says anyone who has fallen victim to scammers once should be especially vigilant.

More than £43 million was defrauded from people in the force area last year.

And data indicates that victims of investment and online fraud are increasingly becoming repeat targets.

Criminals are contacting people who have lost money previously offering to recover it for them in exchange for a fee. They claim to be from their bank, a law enforcement agency, solicitors or ‘specialist recovery firm’.

Kay Bainbridge, victim care and crime prevention officer with the West Yorkshire Police economic crime unit, says past victims need to be alert to the possibility of being approached again.

“Whoever took your money may keep your contact information and contact you again – this time they’ll pose as an organisation that has been made aware of your loss,” she said.

“They’ll claim they can arrest the fraudster or recover the money you lost. In either case, you will be asked to pay a fee first. This is a form of ‘advance fee fraud’ – you’ll never get any money back.

“If you pay, they’ll keep coming back to you with another cost that has to be met before your money can be returned.

“If you ask them to take the fees from the money they claim to have recovered, they will give reasons why this isn’t possible. For example, they might tell you that your money is under the control of a court and can only be paid back to you by them.

“The fraudsters may also ask you to provide details of your bank account so they can pay your money into it. They will use this information to empty your account.”

The economic crime unit says there are signs people can look out for to avoid becoming a repeat victim:

* Being contacted by an agency that knows a lot about the money you lost, and wants a fee. Genuine agencies never ask for fees to recover money lost to fraudsters

* They’ve contacted you with a web-based email address, such as @Yahoo or @Hotmail. Genuine Government or law enforcement agencies and law firms don’t use web mail.

For more details, visit actionfraud.police.uk.