Crime

Authorities warn of phone scams impersonating police

The Public Security Police are cautioning the public about a concerning trend of phone scams in which scammers pose as law enforcement officers to obtain personal information.

The scammers are able to generate caller ID numbers that appear to be from the police hotline, making the calls seem more convincing. The callers claim to be involved in a criminal investigation and inform the victim that their phone has been misused.

According to authorities, the police have received multiple reports from members of the public claiming to have received calls from individuals claiming to be police officers. The authorities suspect that these fraudsters are attempting to gather sensitive personal data from unsuspecting victims.

The Public Security Police emphasize that no legitimate government agency will ever ask for personal information over the phone. They also state that so-called “telephone case handling” or “online case handling” are clear indications of fraud.

The police are urging the public to be wary of the caller ID on their phones, as scammers can use software to disguise the number and make it appear to be from a government agency or a known contact.

Anyone who has fallen victim to these scams is advised to report the incident to the police as soon as possible. VC

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