An official police number appears on your phone. The caller claims to be investigating a crime or banking fraud and insists that you must act immediately. But the person on the line may be a fraudster. Monaco’s Direction de la Sûreté Publique has issued a warning about fraudulent telephone calls in which individuals impersonate police officers, using technology to make their calls appear legitimate.
The technique, known as “spoofing”, allows scammers to display the official number of the police switchboard on the recipient’s screen, even though the call does not originate from the police. The message from the authorities is clear: a displayed telephone number can be falsified and does not guarantee the caller’s identity.
Pressure to act quickly
The fraudsters may refer to a supposed investigation or alleged banking fraud. Their aim is to create a sense of urgency, encouraging the person answering to follow instructions before taking time to question the story. They may seek personal information, bank details, passwords or confidential codes. In other cases, they may try to persuade their target to hand over money, jewellery or other valuables.
By combining an apparently credible telephone number with a claim of police authority, the callers seek to turn concern into immediate compliance.
How to protect yourself
Monaco Police urge residents to follow three essential precautions:
- Never disclose bank details, passwords or confidential codes over the telephone.
- Never hand over money, jewellery or valuables to someone presenting themselves as a police officer following a telephone call.
- If in doubt, hang up immediately and contact the Direction de la Sûreté Publique yourself by dialling 17.
The crucial step is to end the suspicious conversation and make an independent call to the police. The number shown on the screen should never be treated as proof that the caller is genuine.
Report suspicious calls promptly
Anyone who has received a call of this kind, or believes they may have fallen victim to the scam, is urged to contact the police without delay to report what happened and, where appropriate, lodge a complaint. The warning is a reminder that even a call appearing to come from a trusted institution deserves scrutiny. When a caller demands sensitive information or asks you to surrender valuables, pause, hang up and verify their identity directly with the police.
