A SENIOR detective responsible for investigating a spate of bogus police officer scams labelled the fraud a “horrible crime”.

Since the start of the month, Wiltshire Police has received around 10 reports from people contacted by scammers posing as police officers. They include five reports from victims in Swindon.

Det Insp Gemma Vinton of the force’s Digital Investigations and Intelligence Unit said in the majority of cases the criminals had gone away empty-handed.

But she added: “Sadly, some people have been duped and have thought they’ve been speaking to a bona fide police officer.”

The calls, which so far have all been from a male caller, have followed a familiar pattern. A self-claimed police officer, either from Wiltshire Police or another force, tells the victim they have arrested a young man – usually a relative of the person being called – who has been caught with a large amount of cash on them.

Other variations of the scam involve the bogus officer claiming there is a warrant out for the victim’s arrest as a result of unpaid fines, before offering the call recipient the opportunity to pay on the spot. Other reported calls involve the bogus officer saying they need the victim’s help to uncover a fraud plot, telling them to move cash between accounts. In some cases, the scammer told their victim they would send a courier to collect cash.

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Det Insp Gemma Vinton of Wiltshire Police Picture: DAVE COX

Det Insp Vinton told the Adver: “Sometimes we’re finding that actually people are suggesting relatively small sums of money for this so-say fine.

“So, sometimes lowish figures around £50 to £100. Sometimes people are suggesting that bank accounts are at risk or are compromised and they’re actually suggesting people take thousands, tens of thousands of pounds out.

“Sadly, we’re talking about a huge amount of money to normally vulnerable members of the community who perhaps are on the end of the phone talking to these criminals.”

She said if anyone had concerns that a call from their bank or the police was not genuine, they should hang up and call a trusted number on another phone line as the scammers are able to keep a phone line open even if their victim believes they’ve ended the call. People should dial 101 to verify the credentials of a police officer if they had concerns. Banks and the police would not ask people to transfer cash, she added.

The senior officer urged Adver readers to spread the word about the new bogus officer scam.

“If anyone out there has friends, relatives, neighbours, anyone in the community that they think might not have heard this message, please can we get it out there,” Det Insp Vinton said.

“It can be absolutely devastating for these vulnerable people to lose what is a huge amount of money for them to something that they think is a legitimate police officer. It’s a horrible crime.”

Anyone who thinks they have been a victim of fraud should call Wiltshire Police on 101 or Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.