Avon and Somerset Police have issued a warning to the public following multiple reports of fraudsters impersonating police officers in telephone scams. These individuals have been contacting people, falsely claiming to represent Avon and Somerset Police and attempting to deceive recipients into divulging personal and financial information.
Victims have reported receiving calls from individuals pretending to be police officers who allege that the recipient’s personal data may have been compromised. Common claims include warnings that bank accounts are at risk of fraud or that the victim’s details have been linked to a criminal investigation. In some instances, callers have stated that a suspect has been arrested and that the victim’s information was discovered during that investigation. To add authenticity, fraudsters sometimes provide what appears to be a genuine crime or case reference number.
The ultimate goal of these calls is to gain the victim’s trust before attempting to defraud them. Callers often instruct individuals to transfer money to what they describe as a ‘safe account’ or to provide sensitive banking details to protect their finances. In reality, these accounts are controlled by the fraudsters.
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Reports indicate that the fraudsters sound very professional and can sometimes share personal details about the recipient, including nicknames and information not publicly available. Additionally, many of these calls appear to come from legitimate Avon and Somerset Police telephone numbers. Some recipients who have returned calls have been redirected to the genuine police service, further convincing them of the call’s authenticity.
There have been reports of such calls from people residing outside the Avon and Somerset policing area, suggesting that the scammers may be targeting individuals nationally while falsely claiming to represent Avon and Somerset Police.
Amy Samotyj, a fraud protect officer at Avon and Somerset Police, said: “These fraudsters are highly convincing and often sound professional. They may claim an arrest has been made, provide what appears to be a genuine case reference number and tell you your personal details have been found as part of a police investigation. They may even know some information about you in advance.
“They use these tactics to build trust and create a sense of urgency, making the calls seem genuine. However, it’s important to remember that fraudsters can spoof telephone numbers, so the number displayed on your phone may appear to belong to a trusted organisation when it does not.
“Please remember that 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 a call of this nature, end the call immediately and independently verify who has contacted you before taking any action.”
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from the police, it is advisable to hang up and contact the police directly by dialling 101 or visiting your nearest police station to speak to an officer in person.
Anyone who believes they have been targeted by these scams is urged to report the incident via Report Fraud at www.reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. If any money has already been transferred, victims should contact their bank without delay.