A Cambridgeshire taxi driver has been publicly thanked by police after her quick thinking stopped an elderly passenger handing £3,000 to fraudsters.
Bridget Farley-Smith, 43, from Ely, picked up the woman for what looked like a routine journey into town in April. She quickly sensed something wasn’t right — her passenger seemed distressed and anxious. During the drive, the woman explained she was on her way to the bank to withdraw £3,000 in cash after receiving a text claiming to be from her bank about suspicious account activity, followed by a call from someone posing as a fraud investigator instructing her to withdraw the money.
Recognising the hallmarks of courier fraud, Farley-Smith asked to use the woman’s phone and called the number back herself. The person on the other end, who identified herself only as “Fiona,” insisted the taxi should carry on to the bank as planned. Farley-Smith refused, and instead drove the woman straight to the police station to report it.
Cambridgeshire Police’s cyber and fraud prevention officer Kate Thwaites praised Farley-Smith’s “inquisitive and perceptive mind,” noting that fraudsters routinely target the most vulnerable in the community and that cases like this show how important drivers can be as an early warning system. Courier fraud remains a persistent and evolving problem nationally — scammers typically impersonate bank staff or police, pressuring victims into withdrawing cash or handing over cards under the guise of an “investigation.”
It’s a reminder of the trust position drivers are often placed in without realising it — a five-minute journey can be the difference between someone losing their savings or not.
DM Taxi Assistant helps operators manage bookings and customer enquiries around the clock, so drivers can stay focused on the road rather than juggling calls.
Thanks for visiting DM News! If you’ve got a question, a story tip, or anything you’d like to share, head over to DriverMatty.com — I love to hear from you. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out my other websites and social media channels.
Sources:
