Detectives are urging the public to stay vigilant after reports of fraudsters contacting residents while posing as police officers.
Northumbria Police are aware of offenders using a tactic known as 'spoofing', which manipulates the caller ID displayed on a recipient's phone to make it appear the call is coming from a legitimate police telephone number.
Recent reports have involved calls appearing to originate from either 0191 214 6555 or 01661 872555, both former Northumbria Police telephone numbers no longer in use. Fraudsters then attempt to gain victims' trust by claiming to be police officers and persuading them to provide personal, financial or banking information, which can be used for further fraudulent activity. Northumbria are also aware that similar spoofing scams have been reported by other police forces nationally.
Official Warning and Advice
Detective Inspector Michelle Moir, of the Force's Economic and Cyber Crime Department, said: “We would like to remind the public that these calls are not genuine and are not being made by Northumbria Police personnel.
“Please do not rely solely on the number displayed on your phone to verify the identity of a caller.
“Police officers, banks and other legitimate organisations will never ask you to disclose your PIN, online banking passwords, full security details, or transfer money to a 'safe account'.
“If you do receive a call of this nature, do not provide any personal or financial information and end the call immediately.”
How to Verify Callers
Det Insp Moir added: “If you are unsure whether a caller is genuinely from the police, use an alternative telephone where possible, or wait a short period before making a new call, and then contact us through our official channels.
“I would also encourage residents to share this advice with family members, friends and neighbours, particularly those who may be more vulnerable to fraud. It’s vital we get the message across to as many of our residents as possible. Together we can reduce the chances of people becoming victim of fraud.
“By raising awareness of these tactics and talking openly about fraud prevention, we can help protect our communities and reduce the number of people who fall victim to these scams.”
Anyone who believes they have been targeted by a fraudster, or who has lost money or disclosed personal information, should contact Report Fraud at www.reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 1232040.
