City of London Police go for gold in courier fraud crackdown in Hatton Garden, with more than £21m lost in the last financial year

The City of London Police, the national lead force for fraud, has launched a targeted intensification alongside the Met in Hatton Garden— the capital’s renowned jewellery quarter — in a concerted crackdown on courier fraud that has cost victims more than £21 million over the past financial year.

The initiative builds on the momentum of a successful courier fraud enforcement delivered in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service earlier this year. That collaborative effort saw 13 arrests, eight charges, 63 proactive deployments and more than £250k in criminal cash seized sending a clear message to fraudsters operating across London that police forces are closing in on them — together.

Officers, from both the City of London Police and the Met are now focusing their efforts in Hatton Garden to disrupt fraudsters who coerce vulnerable individuals into purchasing high-value gold and jewellery under false pretences, only for these goods to be handed over to criminal couriers posing as trusted officials. Victims are frequently groomed through sophisticated phone scams, manipulated into believing they’re aiding investigations, then left financially and emotionally devastated.

The intensification sees a surge in enforcement activity, increased patrols and engagement with the Hatton Garden business community to raise awareness, identify suspicious behaviour and bolster protections for potential victims.

Detective Inspector Alexander Eristavi from the Lead Force Operations Room at the City of London Police, said:

“Fraudsters are manipulating people’s trust and exploiting their victims to steal millions in precious metals and jewellery. These criminals operate with sophistication and cruelty — and this intensification in Hatton Garden is about cutting off their access to traders and holding them to account.

“We are urging jewellers to remain vigilant for red flags — such as nervous buyers making unusually large purchases under pressure or citing unknown third parties — and to report any suspicious transactions.”

As part of the wider strategy, officers are visiting retail units as well as engaging with local taxi firms to raise awareness. In many cases, victims are instructed to visit jewellers via a cab — often incurring steep travel costs.

In one Sussex case, an 84-year-old woman was targeted by scammers impersonating a police officer. She was persuaded to withdraw cash and travel via taxi to a bullion dealer in Slough to buy gold. The fraudsters remained on the phone throughout and attempted to arrange a courier pickup. Fortunately, her family intervened before the assets were handed over.

Data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), run by the City of London Police, reveals that 1,797 reports of courier fraud were received in the last financial year, with an average loss per victim of just over £12,000. The five police force areas reporting the highest total losses were the Metropolitan Police Service, Thames Valley Police, Cheshire Constabulary, Hampshire Constabulary, and Essex Police.

To stay safe and protect yourself:

• Your bank or the police will never call you to ask you to verify your personal details or PIN by phone, or offer to pick up your card by courier. Hang up, wait a few minutes and call your bank on a number you know to be genuine, such as the one on the back of your card, or by calling 159
• The police or your bank will not contact you out of the blue to participate in an investigation, or send a courier to your home to collect bank cards, cash, or other valuable items. Any requests to do so are a scam.
• Don’t trust Caller ID display on your phone – it’s not proof of ID.

Remember, staying cautious and sceptical can go a long way in protecting yourself from courier fraud. Take the time to verify information, seek advice from trusted sources, and never rush into making financial decisions under pressure.

If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040, or call Police Scotland on 101.