HOW TO VERIFY AN OFFICERS IDENTITY

There have been instances where fraudsters have pretended to be police officers—either in person or over the phone—to obtain personal information and steal money.

If you’re ever unsure whether someone claiming to be a police officer is genuine, stop and call 101 to verify their identity.

Important:
If someone has called you and you are unsure whether they are genuine, hang up and wait at least five minutes before calling us back. Fraudsters can keep a phone line open even after you think you’ve hung up, so leaving a gap ensures the line properly disconnects.

How Our Officers Will Contact You

The way we contact you depends on how you’ve asked us to get in touch and the reason for the contact. For investigative purposes, officers may contact you:

In all cases, officers will clearly identify themselves and explain why they are contacting you.

Contact in Person

If an officer visits you in person, they will show you their police warrant/identification card. This is official proof of both their identity and their authority.

Contact by Phone

If an officer contacts you by phone, they will identify themselves clearly. A genuine police officer will never:

Contact by Email

A genuine officer will never:

If You’re Unsure

If you have any doubts about whether the person you’re dealing with is a genuine police officer, stop and call 101 to confirm their identity.

Reporting Cyber Crime or Fraud

If you believe you’ve been a victim of cyber crime or fraud, please report it to Report Fraud either online or by phone at 0300 123 2040.