Warning following reports of fraudsters posing as police officers from Hester's Way in Cheltenham

Warning following reports of fraudsters posing as police officers from Hester's Way in Cheltenham

Police are reminding the public to be vigilant following reports that fraudsters posing as Gloucestershire Constabulary officers have been calling members of the public.

Over recent days our Force Control Room has been contacted by various forces across the country who have reported that fraudsters have been posing as officers from other forces, including Hester's Way Police Station in Cheltenham.

It is believed that fraudsters have spoofed the police station's phone number and called people in the Cheltenham, Milton Keynes, Poole, Suffolk, Sunderland and Warwickshire areas.

On each occasion the fraudster has provided a bogus collar number and said the person needed to provide their passport number as a person had been arrested and had stored their documentation on a laptop.

Fraudsters are manipulative and victims are often told to not tell their friends or family that they are "helping" with an investigation.

Officers are now urging people to warn their elderly or vulnerable relatives and friends about this type of fraud.

If you're unsure about whether the person you're dealing with is a genuine police officer – stop – and call 101 to check their identity

Please note, if you've been on the phone to someone – who called you – but you have doubts about them, we recommend that you hang up and wait five minutes before you call us. There have been cases of fraudsters keeping the line open after a victim has hung up. Leaving several minutes between calls will make sure that the call has closed.

If you don't have access to a different phone line, wait for a period of time, at least 10 minutes, and try calling a family member or friend first to make sure the scammer is no longer on the line

Police officers will never ask you to hand over your personal details

Just because someone knows basic details about you like your name, address or date of birth, it doesn't mean they are genuine police employees

Always question suspicious phone calls and report them to Report Fraud or the police.

If a police officer needs to speak to you on the phone, they'll identify themselves clearly. They will never:

Ask you for your bank details or PIN

Ask you to transfer funds to another account

Ask you to hand over cash or bank cards to a courier

Ask you to pay a fine or a fee to them or a third party over the phone or online

Ask you for access to your computer, passwords or log on details over the phone or online

Ask you to register personal details in an attachment or website online

Ask you to 'assist' in an investigation by doing any of the above

State that you are committing a crime by not complying

Communicate in an abusive, threatening or coercive manner

For further advice on keeping yourself safe from fraud, visit the Constabulary's website: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/

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(Gloucestershire Constabulary, External Communications Officer, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury)