AN urgent warning has been issued for people to be vigilant after multiple reports of fraudsters telephoning individuals and posing as police officers.
People have reported receiving calls claiming to be from from Avon and Somerset Police when in reality they are criminals using a ‘spoofed’ number to intentionally cover up their real caller ID and instead mirror the telephone number of a legitimate organisation.
The scam calls may use AI technology, be automated, or from a real person.
The main goal is to trick somebody into sharing personal information, or to transfer money.
Often, the criminals will claim the victim will be helping with an investigation by providing the personal or financial information they are asking for.
In some cases, callers claim a suspect has been arrested and that inquiries have uncovered the victim’s details among information obtained during the investigation.
Victims may even be provided with what appears to be a genuine crime or case reference number to make the call seem legitimate.
A police spokesperson said: “It is believed the purpose of these calls is to gain people’s trust before attempting to defraud them.
“Victims may be told their finances are at risk and instructed to transfer money into a purported ‘safe account’, or provide sensitive banking information to protect their funds.
“In reality, any such account would be controlled by fraudsters.
“The callers are often extremely professional and convincing.
“Some victims have reported the fraudsters appeared to know personal information about them, including details and nicknames that would not normally be publicly available.
Reports also suggest fraudsters can make calls appear to come from genuine Avon and Somerset Police telephone numbers.
Some people who have attempted to call the number back have subsequently been connected to Avon and Somerset Police, leading them to believe the original call was genuine.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary fraud protection officer Amy Samoty 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 are using these tactics to build trust and create a sense of urgency, which can make the calls seem genuine.
“It is important 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.
“Remember, 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 and independently verify who has contacted you before taking any action.”
Ms Samoty said people should end the call if they felt pressured or were being told to act urgently.
She said genuine police officers would never object to somebody ending the call to verify their identity.
To check if a call is genuine, people can contact the police on 101 or, in an emergency, 999, and should ideally use a different telephone or allow time for the line to clear, before making the call.
Or, they could visit their nearest police station and speak to an officer in person.
Anybody who believes they may have been targeted is encouraged to report it to Report Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040.
If money has already been transferred, victims should contact their bank immediately.