Sunderland Echo

Alert over fake calls from ‘police’

- By Fiona Thompson fiona.thompson@jpress.co.uk Twitter: @fionathomp­sonjp facebook.com/sunderland­echoonline @sunderland­echo

People have been warned not to give any of their personal details over the phone after two similar incidents where a caller claimed to be a police officer.

Two residents, both living in Fulwell, alerted Northumbri­a Police after they received calls from men saying they were working for the police.

People have been warned not to give any of their personal details over the phone after similar incidents where a caller claimed to be a police officer.

Two residents, both living in Fulwell, alerted Northumbri­a Police after they received calls from men saying they were working for the police.

Both incidents happened within the space of minutes of each other, with the first involving efforts to trick the person out of bank details and the second other informatio­n about their household.

The force has said no officers would call asking for such informatio­n and has urged people to put the phone down on conmen and “remain on their guard”.

Any other residents who receive such calls have been asked to call police on the non-emergency 101 number.

A spokesman said: “The reports we received involved a man calling claiming to be a police officer, and when the people they were calling became suspicious and asked some questions, they hung up.

“We would ask anyone with informatio­n about such phone calls to contact police.

“We would ask members of the public to be vigilant.”

The first incident was reported at 10.30am on Wednesday and the second at 10.56am.

Anyone with informatio­n, or who would like to report any similar calls, can ring 101 or pass on informatio­n anonymousl­y via Crimestopp­ers on 0800 555 111 or through its website, crimestopp­ers-uk.org/.

Action Fraud is on hand to give details about how to spot the signs of fraud and how to report it through its site, www.actionfrau­d.police.uk/.

“Anyone with informatio­n should contact police” SPOKESMAN

 ??  ?? claiming to be police have been attempting to solicit informatio­n from residents.
claiming to be police have been attempting to solicit informatio­n from residents.

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