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Bogus police officer scam targets older people in Knaresborough

Friday, 18 August 2023 00:00

Police are urging Knaresborough residents to put the phone down on a recent telephone scam where the suspect claims to be a police officer.

Bogus police officer scam targets older people in Knaresborough Police are urging residents to put the phone down on a recent telephone scam where the suspect claims to be a police officer. North Yorkshire Police have received at least three reports over the past two days of a person calling older people in the Knaresborough area. The caller claims to be a police officer, asks about a fictitious person in custody and asks the resident if they are at home and when they will be out or returning home. This is a scam, and police have urged residents to put the phone down, do not engage in conversation with the caller, and do not give any personal information to them. A police spokesperson said:

"If you are concerned that you may have been contacted by the scammer, please call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and pass information to our Force Control Room. "Although we have not received any reports of anyone physically calling at a property, please do be vigilant when it comes to any unexpected callers at your door. "If you don’t know who it is, don’t answer the door, and keep your doors locked, even when you are at home."

The spokesperson added:

"If you're unsure about whether the person you're dealing with is a genuine police officer – stop – and call us on 101 to check their identity. "We recommend you wait at least five minutes or call on a different phone to ensure the scammer is not still on the line."

More information about checking a police officers identity can be found online here. Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.

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