Police Impersonation Scam Alert

Police Impersonation Scam Alert

We are aware of a scam circulating in your area.

Police Impersonation Scam Alert

Fraudsters may pretend to be police officers and pressure victims into handing over cash, sharing their bank details or into transferring money.

In the last four months, six of these fraud incidents have occurred resulting in a loss of around £200,000 to residents of the Cheltenham area. Fraudsters claim to be police officers from the London area, and claim that either a person has been arrested for fraudulently using their bank cards or because fraudulent activity has been detected on their accounts.

Fraudsters will often ask the victim to hang up and dial 119 to confirm they are speaking to a legitimate police officer. However, this is part of the scam as the phone line is kept open, and the victim ends up talking to another fraudster who is also involved in the con.

In this type of scam, victims are asked to withdraw cash, which would then be collected by a courier on the victim's doorstep giving a reference number, at another agreed location, or asked to send it to an address via post. Others are instructed to transfer funds into a fake police bank account.

Fraudsters are often manipulative, and victims are often told not to tell their friends or family that they are "helping" with an investigation.

Officers are now urging people to warn their elderly or vulnerable relatives and friends about this type of fraud.

How to protect yourself

If you believe you are being targeted by a scammer, hang up the phone and use a different phone line to call Report Fraud (0300 123 2040) or the police, as scammers have a way to stay on the line and will pretend to be the police when you call back.

If you don't have access to a different phone line, wait a period of time, ideally at least 10 minutes, and try calling a family member or friend first to make sure the scammer is no longer on the line.

Neither police nor bank officials will ever ask you to withdraw money from your account, purchase anything, or hand over your personal details or passwords.

Just because someone knows basic details about you like your name, address or date of birth, it doesn't mean they are genuine bank or police employees.

Always question suspicious phone calls and report them to Report Fraud or the police.

Further advice and reporting

For further advice on keeping yourself safe from fraud, visit the Constabulary's website: https://orlo.uk/BgoWr

Fraud cases can be reported to Report Fraud online: https://www.reportfraud.police.uk/

Victims of fraud looking for help can find more information on Victim Support's website: https://orlo.uk/4tW1P

Anyone who finds themselves in immediate danger should call 999

For advice on keeping yourself safe you can find plenty of crime prevention advice on our website: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/

If you have any further information about these incidents, we’d like to hear from you. Please complete the following online form https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/

Please note, we're unable to accept reports of crime through Your Neighbourhood Alerts. You can report non-emergency crime online here. Always call 999 in an emergency.

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Message Sent By
Lucy Yearsley
(Gloucestershire Constabulary, Crime Prevention Team, Gloucestershire)