Police Scotland has released information on incidents regarding a male bogus caller presenting as a police officer (both over the phone and in person), which have been reported to the Forth Valley Division:
- On Saturday 7th November, a resident from the Stirling area was contacted by a male person via her landline phone. This male advised the resident that there were issues with her bank account and that a police officer would attend at her property to pick up her bank card, and she should also provide the “officer” with the PIN number for this card.
A short time later a person attended the property under the pretense that he was a police officer, he did show some form of identification (not further described). The resident complied with this request. The following day the resident was again contacted and advised to go to the bank and transfer a significant amount of money. On her attendance at the bank on Monday 9th November, staff became suspicious of the transaction and instigated the Banking Protocol by contacting Police Scotland. This intervention ensured no financial loss to the resident.
It is of note that on two separate occasions, after police involvements the male who had originally attended the property under the guise of a police officer has reattended the property and again engaged with the occupier.
- Similar to the incident above, the resident was contacted in the exact same manner, however on this occasion she has attended at the bank and withdrawn a significant amount of cash. A male person pretending to be a police officer has attended at the property and uplifted the cash. The resident also provided her back card and PIN number.
On both occasions the occupiers were provided with a cover story to give to banking staff when they went to the branch.
On both occasions the male presenting as a police officer was dressed in civilian clothing, not police uniform; he is described as scruffy looking with short dark hair, and 5 feet 7 inches tall.
Police Scotland advises that: “Under no circumstances would police officers attend at your home address to uplift any bank cards or obtain banking details such as PIN numbers. Should you be contacted by these means, do not engage with the caller, hang up immediately.”
They have also provided the following advice and checks:
Ways to spot a scam by phone or computer
- Contacted out of the blue?
- Asked to share personal information?
- Pressured into a quick response (such as your bank account has been compromised)?
- A change of discussion (eg. from wanting to cancel your Amazon Prime for you, to “we’ve been hacked and your banking details are at risk”)?
If the answers to the above questions are “yes”, it is likely a scam.
Additionally, the contact details given by the scammer are likely to be vague.
Do not respond to any unsolicited automated messages telephone calls, these are undoubtedly scams.
Always remember no matter what type of contact is made, you are always in control. Take a few minutes and just think what is being asked of you and why.
Police Scotland also advises that, if they feel comfortable doing so, people try and find out information about them (eg. what is their name, which department and location they work at), then HANG UP.
Under no circumstances should you ask for or accept a direct dial phone contact for them.
Always protect your personal details (including bank PIN and account details, passwords to any accounts, address, date of birth).
Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland by phone: 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously by phone: 0800 555 111.
For further information on what happens after a scam has been reported (along with other resources), please visit the Police Scotland pages below:
- Report Fraud (including bogus callers and doorstep crime)
- Report Cybercrime (for any online scams)
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