PSNI See Rise In Fraudulent Phone Calls

Members of the public are urged to remain vigilant in the face of rising numbers of fraudulent telephone calls.

The PSNI said older people are at a heightened risk of falling victim to over the phone scams.

It's reported the fraudsters are posing as police officers, business representatives or members of the fraud department when calling potential targets and requesting their bank details.

Issuing a fresh warning for safety, Chief Superintendent Simon Walls set out basic personal protection measures and advised people to always err on the side of caution.

"No police officer will ever call you on the phone asking for money or personal banking details in this way.

"I would encourage people to take extra precautions to protect themselves from such callous callers. Be sceptical and on your guard, if you think something is suspicious about the nature of the call, it usually is a scam.

"I cannot stress enough just how important it is to be scam aware and to know how easy it is to fall victim to a scam if you don't spot the signs."

Families are advised to protect the older and more vulnerable among them by advising them against ever giving out financial details over the phone.

Legitimate companies will never seek personal banking information by telephone.

Chief Superintendent Walls continued: "Tell them that if they're at all suspicious about a call they receive, hang up and phone the organisation the person is purporting to represent to check their authenticity. Ideally, make the call from another telephone so you can be sure the original caller has not remained on the line. Never be pressured into a transaction over the phone.

"Scammers are creative and will do whatever they can to con people out of money. They don't care who their victim is, they just want the money and will employ whatever tactic is necessary.

"I would advise people to always err on the side of caution when it comes to people asking for your personal details. This is a really important conversation to have.

"Guarding your personal and banking details is essential. Never disclose them to any unauthorised person."

Further details regarding online and home protection against fraud are available online.



(JG/CM)