Avon and Somerset Police have issued a warning to the public following numerous reports of fraudsters impersonating police officers in telephone scams.
Individuals have received calls from people claiming to be officers from Avon and Somerset Police. These callers often assert that the recipient’s personal data has been compromised, that their bank accounts are vulnerable to fraudulent activity, or that their information has been linked to a criminal investigation.
In some instances, fraudsters have alleged that a suspect has been arrested and that enquiries have uncovered the victim’s details in the course of the investigation. To lend authenticity to their claims, victims may be provided with what seems to be a legitimate crime or case reference number.
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The primary objective of these calls appears to be to gain the trust of individuals before attempting to defraud them. Victims might be warned that their finances are at risk and urged to transfer funds to a so-called “safe account” or to disclose sensitive banking details for protection. In reality, these “safe accounts” are controlled by the fraudsters themselves.
The callers are reported to be highly professional and convincing, with some victims noting that the fraudsters seemed to know personal information, including nicknames and other details that are not normally publicly available.
Further complicating matters, the scam calls often appear to originate from genuine Avon and Somerset Police telephone numbers. Some recipients who have tried to return the call found themselves connected to the actual police, which may reinforce the call’s credibility.
Reports indicate that these scam calls have been made to individuals beyond the Avon and Somerset area, suggesting that the fraudsters may be targeting people across the country while falsely representing Avon and Somerset Police.
Amy Samotyj, a fraud protection officer at Avon and Somerset Police, commented: “These fraudsters are highly convincing and often sound very professional. They may claim an arrest has been made, provide an apparently genuine case reference number, and tell you that your personal details have been found as part of a police investigation.”
“They might even possess some information about you in advance. They use these tactics to build trust and create urgency, which can make such calls seem genuine.”
“It is crucial to remember that fraudsters can spoof telephone numbers, meaning the number displayed on your phone may appear to belong to a trusted organisation when it does not. Avon and Somerset Police will never ask you to move money, transfer funds to a ‘safe account’, withdraw cash, purchase gift cards, hand over bank cards, or disclose banking security information as part of an investigation.”
“If you receive such a call, end it immediately and independently verify who has contacted you before taking any further action.”
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from the police, you should:
- Avoid providing any personal, financial, or banking information.
- End the call and contact Avon and Somerset Police directly using a verified telephone number.
- Alternatively, visit your nearest police station to speak with an officer in person.
Anyone who believes they may have been targeted by these scams is encouraged to report the incident to Report Fraud via the website www.reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. If money has already been transferred, victims should contact their bank immediately to report the suspected fraud.