Wiltshire Police issued a warning to residents in Swindon on 26 March 2026 regarding a surge in phone scams where criminals impersonate bank staff or police officers. These fraudsters claim that a victim’s bank account has been compromised, pressuring them to move their money into a so-called safe account or sending couriers to collect bank cards and cash.
Authorities have highlighted a deceptive tactic known as phone number spoofing, where criminals manipulate caller ID settings to make their calls appear as if they are coming from legitimate, trusted sources. This makes the fraudulent calls difficult to identify at a glance. Police are reminding the public that real bank staff and police officers will never ask a person to transfer funds, share a personal identification number, or hand over bank cards over the phone.
This alert follows a series of similar incidents across the region. In February 2026, police warned residents about scammers who posed as officers investigating fake packages, and as far back as May 2024, reports surfaced in Salisbury of criminals claiming to be from the police to target elderly victims. According to Cifas, those aged 61 and over are the most frequent targets of these crimes, while Independent Age research shows they often lose an average of £4,000 per incident.
National data reflects a growing trend in such criminal activity. Figures from the House of Commons Library, citing UK Finance, show that £1.2 billion was stolen through banking fraud in 2024, with fraud now accounting for over 40 per cent of all crimes against individuals in England and Wales. By 2025, the number of recorded fraud cases reached a record 444,000 nationally.
Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign. If anyone receives a suspicious call, they should hang up immediately. Any suspected fraud should be reported through the national Report Fraud service by calling 0300 123 2040.
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