Police Impersonation Fraud

Criminals may impersonate a Police Scotland officer to commit fraud.

These impersonations may take place over the phone, email or in person.

You can verify the authenticity of any contact from Police Scotland by taking a note of the officer's name and shoulder number and contacting 101.

Police Scotland officers will never:

• Ask for your bank card PIN number
• Ask you to transfer money from your account
• Ask you to withdraw cash or buy foreign currency
• Ask you to hand cash or bank cards to a courier or anyone else
• Ask you to pay a fine or fee to them or a third party over the phone or online
• Ask for remote access to your phone, computer or any other device
• Ask you for online banking login details including passwords
• Ask you to enter your personal details into an attachment they send you or a website they direct you to
• Ask you to assist in an investigation by doing any of the above
• Ask you to keep their contact with you a secret and not tell anyone
• Ask you to memorise lines to say if bank staff ask you any questions
• Be threatening or abusive towards you.

If you experience any of the above, or anything else which makes you feel uncomfortable, seems unusual, unexpected or simply doesn't feel right, stop.

You should take note of the officer's details and contact 101 to authenticate these details.