Scammers posing as police in Merseyside faked the force's real phone number to ask for money, so a trusted number on your screen is no proof.
Scammers pretending to be police officers have been phoning people in Merseyside and trying to get them to pay money. The calls appeared to come from the force's real switchboard number. Merseyside Police has urged the public to be on guard.
People reported getting calls from 0151 709 6010, the force's genuine number. The scammers used a trick called ID spoofing. That means they fake the number shown on your phone screen, so a call looks like it comes from someone else. Police say an investigation is under way to find those responsible.
Det Ch Insp Alan Nuttall said impersonating a police officer is a criminal offence. He said offenders like this often deliberately target the most vulnerable people. He asked people to talk to friends or relatives who may be at risk, so they know the dangers and have the right advice.
A real number on your screen proves nothing. Police say no officer should ever ask for your PIN or bank account details. Every officer has a collar number and a warrant card, and you can always ask a police officer for identification.
Some things are not known yet. The material does not say how many people were called, whether anyone lost money, or who is behind the calls.
The alert box above sets out what to do if a call like this reaches you or someone you know.
Never give a PIN or bank details to a caller claiming to be police, even if the number on your screen looks real.
The Attala County Sheriff's Office in Mississippi says scam calls are reaching residents, and a call that sounds official may not be.
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Read more: Fake jury duty calls spoof a real Texas sheriff's phone numberFake PayPal emails and texts, some posing as a security report, try to get you to tap a link and type your login. Checking your account directly avoids the trap.
Read more: Got a fake PayPal message? Skip its link and check your account yourself
