What is a Spoofed Phone Number?

A spoofed phone number is when a caller deliberately disguises their real phone number so that a different number appears on your phone. This means a call may look like it is coming from a trusted organisation, local business, or even someone you know, when it is actually coming from a scammer.

How Do Scammers Use Spoofed Numbers?

Scammers use spoofed numbers to make their calls appear genuine and to encourage people to answer the phone and trust them.

They may pretend to be from:

They often claim there is an urgent problem and may try to persuade you to:

How Can You Protect Yourself?

Remember

The phone number displayed on your screen may not be the caller's real number. A scammer will do all they can to try and keep you on the line. They will want you to panic and act quickly.  REMAIN CALM.  If something doesn't feel right, immediately hang up, and then seek advice from trusted family members, friends and neighbours. 

What to do if you are a victim of Fraud or Cybercrime

Report it immediately: Visit - UK's Home for Reporting Cyber Crime & Fraud - Report Fraud  or call 0300 123 2040

If you have shared financial details, or lost money also contact your bank's fraud team by calling 159

Please feel free to share this advice with you family, friends and other contacts.