Scammer pretends to be cop – using faked police number

SOMEONE has been cold calling residents in Wales pretending to be a police officer.

Dyfed-powys Police has warned people in the area to be wary of a what they are calling a new scam.

Worryingly, the number that is displayed on the unsuspecting victims’ phones is 01267 222020 – the non-emergency number that people are asked to ring if they are calling from outside the force area.

That number is based at the force’s headquarters in Carmarthen, and police say the scammer has “gone to great lengths to make it look like the call comes from the force”.

According to a report from one member of the public, they were told by the person on the phone that they were going to be arrested.

A spokeswoman for Dyfed-powys Police said:

“A resident recently received a telephone call where the caller was claiming to be a police officer form Dyfed-powys Police, and that they were going to be arrested.

“The call was eventually terminated, but if it had gone on for longer there would have inevitably been a demand for funds.

“Worryingly, the scammers had gone to great lengths to make it look like the call had come from the force – as the non-emergency number to call if you’re outside of the force area was displayed on the victim’s mobile when it rang – 01267 222020.

“The scam caller also stated that they were calling from a station local to the victim.”

Dyfed-powys Police has stressed that if they genuinely do call anyone, the 01267 number would not show up.