Vishing (fraudulent telephone calls) is the fraudulent practice of making phone calls or leaving voice messages purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as bank details and credit card numbers.
Fraudsters pretending to be officers have been targeting the elderly and vulnerable by calling their home landline.
Watch out for fake calls (from a withheld number) by someone who says they're a police officer, giving a name, police station and police ID, and claiming that you have been a victim or serious fraud on your bank account.
Known as the ‘no hang-up scam’, this is where the fraudster keeps the line open, spoofs a dial tone and the fraudster’s accomplice answers and impersonates whoever the victim thinks they are trying to call.
These cold-call phone scams typically involve fraudsters deceiving people into believing they are speaking to a police officer, a member of bank staff or a representative of another trusted company or agency such as a government department.
Usually, the fraudster will convince an individual that they have been a victim of fraud and will ask for personal and financial information in order to gain access to their account.
Beware giving bank details
Never disclose the following details over the phone:
- four-digit card Pin to anyone, including the bank or police
- full password or online banking codes
- personal details, unless you are sure who you are talking to
These callers have no connection with the police. The police or your bank will never contact you out of the blue to ask for your PIN, password, or to transfer money to another account to keep it safe.
Anyone who has given out their personal information to a caller they now think was a fraudster should contact their bank immediately.
To report a fraud, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
