Top cop threatened with arrest by crook
Con artists threatened Ayrshire’s top cop with arrest if he didn’t pay a fake bill.
The audacious criminals were way off the mark when they phoned up Chief Superintendent Faroque Hussain.
The experienced strategic firearms commander deftly dealt with the tax scam, reporting it to HMRC.
Police Scotland figures show rising levels of fraud during the pandemic.
Speaking during a council meeting last week, Divisional Ayrshire Commander Chief Superintendent Hussain said: “I received a telephone call from an individual claiming to be from HMRC, saying if I didn’t pay the tax bill I would be arrested. Individuals are receiving these calls and it is about us trying to educate individuals as best as we can to have an impact on reducing the number of victims.”
The incident comes as criminals try to cash in on the coronavirus emergency.
Chief Superintendent Hussain told the North Ayrshire police, fire and rescue committee: “The [ fraud] increase is seen across Police Scotland. It is not a localised issue for ourselves. We know there are organised crime groups operating both within the UK and abroad that are developing the modus operandi in terms of fraud. It is about us being able to educate members of the public about various scams.”
A police report to councillors at the committee said: “Fraud is an area which has seen a large increase locally and nationally since March as a result of organised crime groups in the UK and beyond seeking to exploit vulnerable people as a result of the pandemic.”
Reports of any HMRC scams can be emailed to phishing@ hmrc. gov. uk