“It’s the police – transfer your money to a safe account.” We check: it’s a scam, even when the number looks right

What we checked

Many people in the UK are receiving calls from people claiming to be police officers. They say your data has leaked, your account is at risk, or that they have arrested a suspect and found your details on them. They give a case number. The screen shows a genuine police number. Then comes the request: move your money to a “safe account”, or you will lose it. We checked whether such a request could be genuine.

How we checked

• Report Fraud (the national fraud reporting service run by the City of London Police) – warning of 15 October 2026: “Police forces being impersonated in scam calls using spoofed phone numbers”. Checked 26.10.2026.
• Avon and Somerset Police – warning of 4 September 2026 (updated 14 September): “Warning over fraudsters impersonating Avon and Somerset Police officers”. Checked 26.10.2026.

What is confirmed and what is not

Confirmed: Report Fraud has recorded an increase in reports of calls from people claiming to be police from different parts of the country. The City of London Police, the lead force for fraud, has received thousands of similar reports. Fraudsters use software that displays the number of a genuine institution on the screen. They can also fake text messages, and calls may be automated or AI-generated.

Confirmed: according to Avon and Somerset Police, some victims called back and reached a genuine police control room, which made the scam more convincing. Reports also came from outside the region. Callers sometimes knew details of the victim’s life, even nicknames.

Confirmed: both institutions state clearly – genuine police or banks will never ask you to make a transfer, withdraw cash, buy gift cards, hand over your bank card or give out codes and PINs.

Not confirmed: there are no public figures on exactly how many people have lost money this way in 2026. Report Fraud says reports are probably only “the tip of the iceberg”.

How to protect yourself

• Do not trust the number on the screen. It is not proof of who is calling.
• Hang up. A real police officer will not mind you wanting to check.
• Call back from a different phone or wait a few minutes for the line to clear. Police: 101, your bank: 159. In an emergency: 999.
• Report a suspicious call by text to 7726: type “Call” and the number that called you.
• Report fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040 (England, Wales, Northern Ireland). In Scotland – Police Scotland, tel. 101.
• If you have already transferred money, call your bank immediately.
• Warn elderly parents and grandparents – they are the ones who most often receive such calls.

Sources: Report Fraud / City of London Police (15.10.2026); Avon and Somerset Police (04.09.2026).