South Yorkshire Police issue warning over fraudsters posing as cops in phone calls to victims
“We know that other numbers connected to South Yorkshire Police could be spoofed in the future”
A warning has been issued about fraudsters calling people and pretending to be officers from South Yorkshire Police.
Earlier this week, South Yorkshire Police said it had received seven reports about members of the public receiving calls from 01226 736394, which is a number connected to a Barnsley police station but has been fraudulently spoofed by these callers.
The callers claimed to be detectives and had personal details of the those they called. Some of the calls referred to cryptocurrency.
But South Yorkshire Police say those calls did not come from the force.
A spokesperson said: “These calls have not come from us.
“If you receive a call from the number 01226 736394, do not answer it. Do not give your personal or financial details away over the phone. If in doubt, hang up and contact us on 101 to verify the call.
“If you have provided financial or personal details to this number, contact your bank and report to Report Fraud.”
Since then, the force said it has been made aware of “further reports of callers fraudulently spoofing South Yorkshire Police phone numbers in calls to members of the public”.
The force said:”Caller ID spoofing is where a caller uses software to make a false number appear on the recipient’s phone screen when they call them.
“We shared advice on Monday about a South Yorkshire Police number being spoofed in apparent attempt defraud members of the public.
“We have since been made aware of two other force numbers being spoofed. These are 0114 2964150 and 0114 2202020.
“However, we know that other numbers connected to South Yorkshire Police could be spoofed in the future.
“If you receive a call from someone who says they are from South Yorkshire Police and asks for your financial information, do not provide it.
“Instead, hang up and if in doubt contact us on 101 to verify the call.”