North Yorkshire Police is warning the public about a rise in scam calls from fraudsters posing as officers from New Scotland Yard or the Metropolitan Police, who tell victims their bank cards have supposedly been used by someone arrested in London or elsewhere in the country.
The trick relies on victims being told to verify the caller’s credentials by dialling 999 themselves. In reality, the original fraudster simply stays on the line rather than hanging up, so the call never actually disconnects — a second scammer then poses as the operator taking the “999 call”, making the whole thing feel genuine.
Anyone worried about a call like this should make sure they properly end it, particularly on a landline, since hanging up doesn’t always cut the connection straight away. Where possible, use a completely different phone or device to check someone’s identity independently. If you’re unsure whether you’re really speaking to a police officer, put the phone down, wait for the dialling tone if you’re on a landline, then ring 101 — the control room can confirm an officer’s identity for you.
Scammers don’t always claim to be police. Some pose as staff from the Financial Conduct Authority or a victim’s own bank, insisting the account is under threat and pushing people to withdraw or transfer cash, or to hand bank cards, PINs, jewellery or other valuables to a so-called “courier” sent to collect them.
Neither a genuine bank nor the police will ever ask for a PIN or online banking password, tell someone to withdraw cash or part with valuables, ask for money to be moved into a “safe account”, or send a courier to collect cash, cards or valuables.
Anyone who gets a call like this is advised to hang up straight away, contact their bank using the number printed on the back of their card, and report the incident to police via 101 or through Report Fraud.
