Two men took an elderly woman to a bank in Bolton and demanded she withdraw money from her account.

Earlier today, Wednesday, at around 11am, police were called to Market Street, Bolton of suspicious activity and a concern for welfare.

Police were quick on the scene and found two men with an elderly lady in a bank. Enquiries established she was taken there by two men who demanded she withdraw a substantial amount of money, taking advantage of her vulnerabilities, when knocking on her door.

Two men, aged 27 and 48, remain in custody on suspicion of fraud by false representation. With one also being wanted for other offences.

Sergeant Paul Lockett said: “Our work doesn’t always involve fast-paced pursuits, but on this occasion with us being able to respond rapidly and the knowledge of the bank staff that something wasn’t right and to report it instead, we managed to startle them and catch them there and then before any harm could be done.

“In this incident, I think we can all agree that extorting and taking advantage of vulnerable people in our society for quick monetary gain is one of the most shocking and heartbreaking acts you can do.

“We now have district detectives questioning them on their motives and actions and we were able to return the lady who was understandably upset and confused back to her home safely whilst informing her loved ones.”

If anyone has any additional information is asked to call 101 quoting incident 985 of 02/10/2024. Alternatively, details can be passed on anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Fraudsters usually deploy tactics to create a sense of urgency to make the victim respond quickly.

Police encourage people to take the time to stop and take some time to think about why you are parting with your money and if it feels suspicious. Ask yourself if this request could be fake, criminals will try to rush you and finally, protect yourself by contacting your bank to report any suspicions.

If you’ve been the victim of a fraud or online crime (cybercrime) you can report it to Action Fraud online or contact 0300 123 2040.