Residents across Devon and Cornwall are being urged to remain vigilant after reports of scammers pretending to be police officers in an attempt to steal money.
Devon and Cornwall Police have issued a warning that fraudsters are calling members of the public and claiming to be serving officers. In some cases, they have even used the names of real officers found online to make the scam appear more convincing.
Police are reminding the public that officers will never:
-Ask for bank details or PIN numbers over the phone
-Request that money be transferred to another account
-Send a courier to collect cash
A spokesperson said: “If someone calls you claiming to be from the police and asks for money or banking information, it’s a scam. Hang up immediately. Genuine officers will never make such requests.”
What to do if you’re unsure
If you have any doubts about whether a caller is a genuine police officer, end the call and dial 101 to confirm directly with the police. Fraudsters often try to keep victims on the phone to prevent them from checking the call.
If you’ve lost money or shared details
-Contact your bank immediately – dialling 159 will connect you straight through.
-Report to Action Fraud [actionfraud.police.uk]
-Inform the police by calling 101 or completing an online reporting form [here](
Police are encouraging everyone to share this warning with friends, family, and neighbours – particularly older or more vulnerable people who may be targeted by these scams.
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