Scammers Claiming To Represent The BPS

The Bermuda Police Service [BPS] said they are “aware of scammers calling local residents claiming to work for the BPS and requesting personal information, as well as financial details.

A police spokesperson said, “This is a well-known phishing tactic and is similar to the methods used back in October, when an alert was issued about the same kinds of fraudulent calls.

Obvious Red Flags

“Any caller who claims to be a police officer or other BPS representative and requests personal information, including bank account particulars, over the phone.

“Any unexpected calls received by landline and mobile phone, from an overseas or unknown number. As an example, local residents have recently received WhatsApp calls from a profile featuring the BPS crest, but displaying foreign phone number +92-313-622-7439.

Practical Advice

“As a reminder, genuine BPS officers will not contact members of the public requesting personal information over the phone. Instead, they will make an appointment with the individual to attend a police station at a specific time and date to be spoken with.

“Once again, should any such calls be received from persons claiming to be BPS officers, residents should challenge them, by asking that the caller provide their name and badge number. Any police officer employed by the BPS should readily identify themselves by their name, rank, badge number and department, plus provide local contact information.

“If the caller refuses to provide any of that information, immediately hang up and contact the BPS by calling 211, to make a report.

“For those callers that provide a name, rank, badge number and department, but continue to ask for personal details, inform them that you would prefer to attend a police station and speak with an officer there.

“Then hang up and contact the BPS directly, by calling 211, to report the matter.”

#Scams

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