{"id":419995,"date":"2026-09-28T18:21:03","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T18:21:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/?p=419995"},"modified":"2026-09-28T18:21:03","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T18:21:03","slug":"avon-somerset-police-scam-calls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/avon-somerset-police-scam-calls\/","title":{"rendered":"Avon and Somerset Police Scam Calls: Spoofed Numbers and Safe Account Trap"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The caller says they are a police officer. They know your name, mention a case number, and insist your bank account needs protecting.<\/p><div id=\"mwtad1154779866\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_309684--placement_406659\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"3957935887\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<p>Even the number on the screen seems to belong to the police. That apparent match is where many people stop questioning the call.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"700\" class=\"wp-image-419986 size-full lazyload\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Flat on-screen illustration of a call screen showing an apparent police number and an urgent security claim\" title=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/imagesavon-call.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/imagesavon-call.png 900w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/imagesavon-call-300x233.png 300w\"><\/figure>\n<div id=\"mwtad404426929\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_309746-ad_309685-placement_406660\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"4456629336\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2>Overview<\/h2>\n<h3>What callers claim is happening<\/h3>\n<p>Residents have reported calls from people claiming to represent Avon and Somerset Police. The supposed officer says personal data has been compromised or linked to crime.<\/p><div id=\"mwtad3013013738\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_381396-ad_309685-placement_406667\" style=\"margin-top: 50px;margin-bottom: 50px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1471373341\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<p>Another version says the recipient&#8217;s bank account is exposed to fraud. The caller may claim an arrest has already been made and a police investigation is under way.<\/p>\n<p>The caller can add convincing details, including an apparent case reference or information about the person answering. Familiar facts make the story feel more credible.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The call may appear to come from a real police telephone number.<\/li>\n<li>The person may claim to know private details or a nickname.<\/li>\n<li>A case reference can be presented as proof of an investigation.<\/li>\n<li>The requested action may be a transfer to a supposed safe account.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>What Avon and Somerset Police confirmed<\/h3>\n<p>The force <a href=\"https:\/\/www.avonandsomerset.police.uk\/news\/2026\/09\/warning-over-fraudsters-impersonating-avon-and-somerset-police-officers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">issued a public warning<\/a> after receiving multiple reports of impersonation calls. It said reports also came from outside its policing area.<\/p><div id=\"mwtad3740112321\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_309686-ad_309685-placement_406668\" style=\"margin-top: 50px;margin-right: 10px;margin-bottom: 50px;margin-left: 10px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"6935453015\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<p>Police described callers who may try to obtain sensitive banking information or instruct victims to move money to an account controlled by fraudsters.<\/p>\n<p>The warning also addressed number spoofing. The displayed number can appear genuine even though the incoming call did not originate from the police.<\/p>\n<p>Some people called that number back and reached the real police control room. That callback showed the number belonged to police, not that the earlier caller was genuine.<\/p><div id=\"mwtad852268639\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_381401-ad_309685-placement_406669\" style=\"margin-top: 50px;margin-right: 10px;margin-bottom: 50px;margin-left: 10px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"5315249587\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<h3>The key judgment<\/h3>\n<p>An unexpected police call asking you to move money is a scam, however professional the caller sounds. No legitimate investigation requires a transfer to a \u201csafe account.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Avon and Somerset Police is the organization being impersonated. The force is not asking members of the public to transfer funds or disclose banking security details this way.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mwtad1560351170\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_381404-ad_309685-placement_406670\" style=\"margin-top: 50px;margin-right: 10px;margin-bottom: 50px;margin-left: 10px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"8735619847\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><p>The official warning does not identify one fixed caller number or payment account. Do not assume a different number means a different, safer situation.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mwtad3629852037\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_309747-ad_309685-placement_406661\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"9589536513\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2>Why the Number on Your Screen Can Mislead You<\/h2>\n<p>Caller ID is useful for ordinary calls, but it is not reliable identity proof. Fraudsters can manipulate the number presented to the receiving device.<\/p>\n<p>This creates a dangerous moment for a careful person. You search the displayed number, find the police website, and conclude the call must be real.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mwtad1358500777\" class=\"mwtadp5 mwtadentity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 50px;margin-bottom: 50px;\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\"\r\n     data-ad-layout=\"in-article\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"8560433799\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><\/div><p>The search only confirms who owns the displayed number. It does not confirm who placed the call that just reached you.<\/p>\n<p>A second trap follows. You press the call-back button and reach the real police switchboard, which seems to validate the earlier conversation.<\/p>\n<p>It does not. The callback is a new call to the genuine number. The first caller could still have been a fraudster using that number as a mask.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mwtad2204462231\" class=\"mwtadp6 mwtadentity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 50px;margin-bottom: 50px;\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block; text-align:center;\"\r\n     data-ad-layout=\"in-article\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"4034304343\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><\/div><p>To verify a claimed officer, end the call and contact the organization independently. Use a number you found on its official website, not one read aloud by the caller.<\/p>\n<p>In the UK, police guidance points to 101 for a non-emergency police contact and 999 for an emergency. Using a different phone can add separation.<\/p>\n<p>If you must use the same landline, allow time for the previous call to clear before dialing. Do not let the caller control the verification process.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mwtad3064378775\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_309748-ad_309685-placement_406662\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"3906789406\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2>How the Avon and Somerset Police Call Scam Works<\/h2>\n<h3>Step 1: The fraudster opens with authority<\/h3>\n<p>The call arrives without warning. The person introduces themselves as a police officer and may give a rank, name, or apparent collar number.<\/p>\n<p>A steady, professional tone is part of the persuasion. The caller does not have to shout to create pressure; sounding routine can be more effective.<\/p>\n<p>They may mention an investigation, an arrest, or compromised records. These claims position the recipient as someone who needs to cooperate quickly.<\/p>\n<p>The identity details can be invented or borrowed. A real officer&#8217;s name found online is not proof that the person speaking is that officer.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 2: Personal details make the story feel specific<\/h3>\n<p>According to the police warning, some callers appeared to know information about the people they contacted, including details and nicknames not normally public.<\/p>\n<p>This may make the call feel impossible to fake. In reality, knowledge of a detail is not authorization to direct your finances.<\/p>\n<p>Personal information can come from many places, including data shared previously, breached records, and information collected through earlier contact.<\/p>\n<p>The advisory does not establish exactly how these callers obtained it. The safe response does not depend on solving that question during the call.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 3: A case reference creates false verification<\/h3>\n<p>The caller may provide what appears to be a crime or case reference. It sounds like something you can repeat to the police later.<\/p>\n<p>A made-up reference is easy to say. A real reference could also be quoted out of context. Neither proves the person speaking has police authority.<\/p>\n<p>The caller may invite you to \u201ccheck\u201d the displayed number online. That invitation is not generous; it steers you toward a test that spoofing defeats.<\/p>\n<p>Real verification requires an independent conversation with the force, initiated after you have ended the suspicious call.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"700\" class=\"wp-image-419987 size-full lazyload\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Flat on-screen illustration of a fake investigation message directing a person to move money to a safe account\" title=\"\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" data-src=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/imagesavon-message.png\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/imagesavon-message.png 900w, https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/imagesavon-message-300x233.png 300w\"><\/figure>\n<h3>Step 4: The supposed investigation becomes a money request<\/h3>\n<p>Once trust is established, the caller says your account is at risk and your funds need protection. The proposed fix is to move them elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p>The destination is described as a safe account, evidence account, or temporary holding account. In the official warning, such an account would belong to fraudsters.<\/p>\n<p>Some callers may instead seek bank details, PINs, passwords, or one-time codes. Those details can let them attempt unauthorized access without a transfer from you.<\/p>\n<p>The request may be presented as confidential. Secrecy prevents you from asking a family member or your bank whether it makes sense.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 5: Pressure keeps you from checking independently<\/h3>\n<p>A fraudster can say the transfer must happen before a suspect moves the money. They may insist that hanging up would interfere with an investigation.<\/p>\n<p>They may ask you to stay on the line while opening your banking app. That gives them another chance to correct doubts and keep the story moving.<\/p>\n<p>A legitimate officer will not object to you ending a call and checking the identity through the force&#8217;s official contact route.<\/p>\n<p>The moment a caller resists independent verification, the claim of authority becomes less credible, not more.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mwtad4114094460\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_318930-ad_309685-placement_406663\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"3818335085\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2>The Red Flags That Matter Most<\/h2>\n<p>The safest rule is behavioral. Judge what the person asks you to do, not how official the caller ID or case language appears.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Move money to protect it or help an investigation.<\/li>\n<li>Withdraw cash, buy gift cards, or hand over bank cards.<\/li>\n<li>Reveal a PIN, banking password, or one-time passcode.<\/li>\n<li>Keep the call secret from your bank or family.<\/li>\n<li>Stay on the line while you make a transfer.<\/li>\n<li>Use a verification number supplied during the suspicious call.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Avon and Somerset Police says it will not ask people to do those things as part of an investigation. The warning applies even if a caller knows real details.<\/p>\n<p>Do not argue with the person to prove they are lying. Ending the call is safer, faster, and leaves you free to check.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mwtad413402786\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_381388-ad_309685-placement_406705\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"3191649120\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2>How to Verify a Claimed Police Officer<\/h2>\n<p>Write down what was said, but do not treat the caller&#8217;s reference as validated. End the conversation before opening your bank or sharing information.<\/p>\n<p>Find the force&#8217;s published contact route yourself. Type the official site address or use 101 in the UK, rather than calling a number from the suspicious conversation.<\/p>\n<p>Explain that you received an unexpected call, give the claimed officer&#8217;s details, and ask the force to check whether anyone genuinely contacted you.<\/p>\n<p>If a real matter exists, the force can tell you an appropriate next step. You do not need to solve the case while the incoming caller waits.<\/p>\n<p>Contact your bank through the number on your card or its official app if the caller mentioned your account. The bank can check for unusual activity.<\/p>\n<p>Do not assume the real police switchboard confirming its own phone number settles the question. Ask specifically whether the earlier call was made by an officer.<\/p>\n<p>Be careful with web search ads for police or bank contact numbers. An official site or an existing trusted app is a better route than a sponsored result.<\/p>\n<p>If the call reached someone elderly or vulnerable, offer to help with an independent callback. Let them speak for themselves while you support the verification.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mwtad3304359512\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_381392-ad_309685-placement_406664\" style=\"margin-top: 50px;margin-bottom: 50px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"2944237110\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2>What a Real Investigation Would Not Need From You<\/h2>\n<p>The caller&#8217;s story may change, but the central demand stays similar: give control of your money or account information to someone you have not verified.<\/p>\n<p>Moving your savings does not preserve evidence. It creates a transaction that may be difficult to reverse if the destination belongs to a criminal.<\/p>\n<p>Sharing a passcode does not help police confirm identity. It may allow a criminal to approve a login, payment, or account change.<\/p>\n<p>Handing over a bank card does not assist a fraud inquiry. The person collecting it would gain a direct route to your funds.<\/p>\n<p>The police advisory also mentions requests to buy gift cards or goods. Those requests should be understood as payment demands, even when wrapped in investigative language.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes the caller says a bank employee is involved in the crime. That claim can discourage you from calling your bank for help.<\/p>\n<p>Do not let a stranger isolate you from the very institutions that can confirm or challenge their story. Contact the bank through your known channel.<\/p>\n<p>If you are asked to withdraw cash, remember that physical collection leaves you with fewer transaction controls. Refuse and call police independently.<\/p>\n<p>Written notes can help later: who claimed to call, what they requested, which account they gave, and when they wanted you to act.<\/p>\n<p>Record those details only if you can do so safely. You do not owe the caller more conversation just to complete a perfect report.<\/p>\n<p>One confident sentence is enough: \u201cI will contact the police directly.\u201d Then hang up and make the separate call yourself.<\/p>\n<p>That pause is not uncooperative. It is the appropriate response to a request that could empty an account within minutes.<\/p>\n<p>If the caller tries again, repeat the same verification route. A new voice, case number, or displayed number does not validate the original demand.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mwtad3318781061\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_381392-ad_309685-placement_406665\" style=\"margin-top: 50px;margin-bottom: 50px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"2944237110\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2>What to Do if You Have Fallen Victim to This Scam<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>End contact immediately.<\/strong> Do not answer follow-up calls or messages from the same person, even if they claim to be checking the case.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Call your bank through an official route.<\/strong> Tell its fraud team exactly what you transferred or disclosed and ask about freezing, recalling, or monitoring the account.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Secure exposed credentials.<\/strong> Change passwords through the genuine banking service. Tell the bank if you disclosed a PIN or one-time code.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Preserve the evidence.<\/strong> Save call times, displayed numbers, any voicemail or message, account details supplied, and transaction references.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Report the impersonation.<\/strong> Contact police independently and report fraud through the UK&#8217;s official reporting service. Do not rely on a number supplied by the caller.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Watch for repeat approaches.<\/strong> A second caller may claim to be a fraud investigator or recovery agent. Verify every new contact from scratch.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tell someone you trust.<\/strong> Shame and isolation help fraudsters. A friend or family member can help you document events and stay focused.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If you only answered the call but shared nothing, you have not automatically lost access to your bank. Report it and remain alert for follow-up attempts.<\/p>\n<p>Security software cannot undo a bank transfer or authenticate a caller. Your strongest control against this phone scam is independent verification.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Can scammers display a real Avon and Somerset Police number?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. The force warned that callers can spoof numbers so an incoming call appears to come from its genuine telephone lines.<\/p>\n<h3>Does reaching the police when I call back prove the earlier call was real?<\/h3>\n<p>No. Your callback reaches the number you dialed. It does not authenticate whoever placed the earlier incoming call using that number on the display.<\/p>\n<h3>What if the caller knows my nickname or address?<\/h3>\n<p>That makes the call more persuasive, but not more authorized. Verify through the force before discussing finances or personal security information.<\/p>\n<h3>Will police ask me to move money into a safe account?<\/h3>\n<p>No. Avon and Somerset Police explicitly warns that it will not ask you to transfer money to a purported safe account as part of an investigation.<\/p>\n<h3>Should I give the caller a one-time banking code to confirm my identity?<\/h3>\n<p>No. Do not disclose a one-time code, PIN, or password to someone who called you. Contact the bank independently if your account might be affected.<\/p>\n<h3>Who should I contact after sending money?<\/h3>\n<p>Contact your bank&#8217;s fraud team immediately, then report the incident to police and the UK&#8217;s official fraud-reporting service with your saved evidence.<\/p>\n<h2>The Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>The Avon and Somerset Police call scam uses official-sounding detail and a spoofed number to make a dangerous request seem routine.<\/p>\n<p>End the call, verify independently, and never move money or reveal banking security details for someone who claims to be conducting a police investigation.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mwtad623939523\" class=\"gas_fallback-ad_176819-ad_309685-placement_406666\" style=\"margin-top: 50px;margin-bottom: 50px;\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7750719144850257\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7750719144850257\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"8386082122\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The caller says they are a police officer. They know your name, mention a case number, and insist your bank account needs protecting. Even the number on the screen seems to belong to the police. &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"Avon and Somerset Police Scam Calls: Spoofed Numbers and Safe Account Trap\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/avon-somerset-police-scam-calls\/#more-419995\" aria-label=\"Read more about Avon and Somerset Police Scam Calls: Spoofed Numbers and Safe Account Trap\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":419986,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-419995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-scam-reports","masonry-post","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-50","resize-featured-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/419995","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=419995"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/419995\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":420000,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/419995\/revisions\/420000"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/419986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=419995"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=419995"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malwaretips.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=419995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}