Sussex residents are being warned about scam calls in which criminals pretend to be police officers and manipulate the caller ID so that the number displayed appears to be the force’s genuine 101 contact number.
The warning matters because a familiar-looking number can make an unexpected call seem trustworthy. Sussex Police says residents should not rely on caller ID alone and should never provide personal or financial information to an unsolicited caller.
How the Sussex Police scam calls work
According to a local alert reported by Sussex News, the callers may ask for personal details or try to persuade the recipient to transfer money. The number shown on the phone may look like 101 because criminals can use caller ID spoofing technology.
A genuine police officer will not unexpectedly ask someone to reveal bank account details, withdraw or transfer money, hand over a bank card, or buy high-value items as part of an investigation. Pressure to act immediately or keep the call secret is another warning sign.
What to do if 101 appears on your phone
- Do not share passwords, PINs, security codes or banking information.
- Do not transfer money, withdraw cash or buy items for the caller.
- Hang up if the call is unexpected or feels suspicious.
- Verify the contact independently using the official details on the Sussex Police website, preferably from a different phone.
- Report fraud or attempted fraud through Action Fraud.
- Call 999 only if there is an immediate danger or a crime is in progress.
If a caller provides a name, collar number or case reference, residents should still end the call and verify it independently. Calling back a number supplied by the caller is not a reliable check.
The South East Cyber Resilience Centre also advises that genuine police cyber officers will not ask for passwords, authentication codes or remote access, and will not pressure people into immediate action. Its official Cyber Protect guidance offers further help for individuals and organisations.
Anyone who has already disclosed banking information should contact their bank immediately using the number printed on the card or the bank’s official website, then report the incident.
Illustrative image: a person using a smartphone. Photo by Hassan OUAJBIR on Unsplash.
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