A North East resident recently received a call on their mobile phone from a male claiming to be a Sheriff Officer.
He was very assertive and stated that he was coming to their home with a locksmith and would be removing goods to the value of an unpaid bill.
The resident was not at home and panicked, so paid the ‘bill’ by transferring the money from their bank account direct to the male, to ensure they would not attend at their home.
They then called their bank who confirmed it was a scam.
The North East Crime Reduction Team: “We urge people to remain vigilant to criminals making contact by telephone in an attempt to separate them from their money. Do not entertain anyone who contacts you by telephone and directs you to transfer money to a different bank account. If you believe you have been a victim of a telephone scam, contact your bank or card provider and Police Scotland on 101”
The Police or your bank will never ask you to transfer money to a safe account or contact you to ask for your full PINs, passwords or passcodes. Always remember to:
Verify their identity by contacting the organization directly using official contact details you find yourself. Do not use any contact information provided by the caller.
Remember Caller ID can be faked. Even if the caller ID shows a legitimate organization, it could be a scammer using spoofing technology. Always verify independently.
Do not click on links in unexpected emails, texts, or social media messages. These could be phishing attempts designed to steal your personal information.
Recognize Red Flags such as high-pressure tactics or urgent language demanding immediate action, requests for personal information or security codes and threats of legal action if you do not comply.
If you receive a request asking for money, follow @TakeFiveStopFraud’s advice and #StopChallengeProtect.
This messaging system is not for reporting crime as responses are not monitored 24/7. If you have time-critical information regarding the content of the above message, or if you wish to report any other non-urgent matter, please call 101. In an emergency, call 999.
Police Scotland’s North East Division covers rural and urban areas in Moray, Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City. The division has five territorial command areas which have their own dedicated Area Commander, who is responsible for the daily policing function. Each command area is served by a number of community policing teams whose activities are built around the needs of the local community. These teams respond to local calls and look for long term solutions to key issues. They are assisted by the division’s Crime Reduction Unit who deliver against Force and local priorities in a number of areas, including physical and social crime prevention, supporting and enhancing community engagement and creating and sustaining strong and effective partnership working.
