Fraud Awareness

Fraud Awareness

WARNING!

Please be aware that recently the force have received numerous reports from residents receiving a phone call from someone using the old general Cleveland Police number of 01642 326 326 which was in place until we switched to the 101 system.

Fraudsters are attempting to persuade residents to hand over their bank details and other personal information by the tactic of ‘spoofing.’

‘Spoofing’ is when the call appears on your device as a particular number, however this is to disguise the actual number that they are calling from and the caller purports to be a police officer in order to obtain resident’s personal information, often including bank details, and then commit fraudulent activity using these details.

Detective Sgt Kev Appleby of Cleveland Police’s Economic Crime Unit said “Please remember, these phone calls are not genuine and they are not being made by a Police Officer or originating from Cleveland Police.

If you receive any calls like this from 01642 326 326 please be cautious. Do not pass on personal or bank information, and end the call immediately as Police or any other professional agencies such as banks would never ask for this information.

Finally, I would urge our residents to make vulnerable friends or family members, especially those who may not be on social media, aware of this tactic

It's vital that we get this message across to as many of our residents as possible. Together we can reduce the chances of people becoming victim of fraud.”