Fraud Prevention: Criminals Posing as Police Officers

Fraud Prevention: Criminals Posing as Police Officers

Dear Wandsworth Common Community,

On the 9th November 2026 a Wandsworth Common resident was contacted by telephone by two unknown males claiming to be police officers from Kent Police. Using a spoofed police telephone number and fraudulent crime reference numbers the suspects attempted to gain the resident's trust and persuade them to transfer money into an account controlled by the offenders.

The resident became suspicious and contacted Kent Police directly, who confirmed they could not identify the alleged officer and that the telephone number had been spoofed. As a result, no money was transferred and no financial loss was incurred.

🚨How to Protect Yourself 🚨

How to check an officer's identity

There have been occasions when fraudsters have posed as police officers, both in person and on the phone, to trick people into giving them personal information and defraud them of money. 

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.
Please note, if you've been on the phone to someone – who called you – but you have doubts about them, we recommend that you hang up and wait five minutes before you call us. There have been cases of fraudsters keeping the line open after a victim has hung up. Leaving several minutes between calls will make sure that the call has closed.

How our officers will contact you

How our officers make contact will depend on how you've asked us to contact you and the circumstances around why they're contacting you.

For investigative purposes we may get in touch: in person, by phone or by email

Whichever way an officer contacts you they will identify themselves clearly as an officer and explain why they're contacting you.

Contact in person

If one of our officers contacts you in person, they'll show you their Police warrant/Staff card. This is proof of their identity and authority.

Contact by phone

If one of our officers needs to speak to you on the phone, they'll identify themselves clearly. They will never: 

Contact by email

If one of our officers contacts you by email, they will never: 

Remember 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.

If you think you've been a victim of cyber crime or fraud, please report it to Report Fraud either online or by phone: 0300 123 2040.

Stay Safe!

Biren.

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