Police in the West Midlands have raised an urgent alert after a local resident received a highly convincing phone call from fraudsters impersonating police officers. The callers claimed to be from the Economic and Cyber Crime Division and alleged that someone caught attempting to leave the UK was found with the victim’s ID and personal information.
To make the call appear legitimate, the fraudster provided a fake Report Fraud reference number and used official-sounding names and badge numbers. They even asked detailed questions about cryptocurrency, attempting to extract sensitive data from the victim.
West Mercia Police urge residents to be vigilant and never disclose personal information during such calls. They advise that if you receive a call from someone claiming to be a police officer, you should:
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- Request the caller’s full name, collar number, and police service.
- End the call and wait at least 15 minutes before calling back.
- When calling back, use a different phone if possible and dial 101 to verify the officer’s identity with the police control room.
- Be aware that genuine officers will never ask for banking details, cryptocurrency information, passport numbers, PIN codes, passwords, or request that you transfer or withdraw funds.
- Beware that fraudsters may keep the phone line open after you hang up or produce a false dial tone to trick you.
If you suspect that you have been targeted by such a scam, report it immediately through the official Report Fraud website or by calling 0300 123 2040.
Stay alert and protect your personal information against these evolving scam tactics.