Police warn of scam

28 July 2025 – Devon:
Devon & Cornwall Police are warning residents to stay vigilant following a phone scam involving fraudsters posing as police officers. In one case, an elderly Exmouth resident was conned out of £14,000.

Between 2 and 18 July, police received 12 reports from across the county, including Exeter, Exmouth, Sidbury, Plymouth, Bradnich and Heybrook Bay. Victims were contacted by scammers claiming to be police officers investigating fraud and were persuaded to withdraw large sums of money. A courier was then sent to collect the cash.

An investigation is underway to identify those responsible.

Police Sergeant Tona Pooley said:
"Victims are never to blame. These fraudsters are persuasive and demanding, and sadly some individuals have been scammed out of thousands. Reporting incidents, even if you didn’t lose money, helps us build intelligence and protect others."

Fraudsters often:

Claim to be from the police, banks, or fraud teams
Ask you to withdraw or transfer money
Send a courier to collect cash or cards
Pressure you to help with a fake investigation

Protect yourself by:

Hanging up and waiting 5–10 minutes before making another call
Contacting police via 101 to confirm an officer’s identity
Never giving out PINs, passwords or bank details
Calling 159 to speak directly to your bank’s fraud team
Talking to family or friends before acting on suspicious calls

If you think you’ve been targeted, report it to Devon & Cornwall Police online or call 101. You can also contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk.

More advice:
www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/advice/fraud