The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has issued a public warning following a sophisticated fraud attempt on Monday, June 1, 2026.
Scammers spoofed the official police switchboard number to target a resident in south Belfast.
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The incident occurred around 4:20 p. m.
in the Cromwell Road area.
The fraudster falsely claimed the victim was linked to an investigation involving money transfers to countries associated with narcotics.
The criminal demanded bank card details and ordered the victim to buy gift cards under the pretense that the funds would eventually be returned.
The resident became suspicious of the unusual request, refused to disclose any personal data, and immediately blocked the caller.
Police officials confirmed that no financial details were compromised during the incident.
Inspector Walker provided details on the specific instructions given by the fraudster during the phone call.
"The caller then asked them to purchase gift cards and send across the codes for those, stating that this was part of the investigation process and that the money would be returned to them," said Inspector Walker.
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"This made the reporting party suspicious, however and, thankfully, the victim didn’t share any of their personal or bank details with the caller, who they then blocked."
The police inspector expressed deep concern regarding the manipulation of official communication channels to deceive local residents.
"This is a very concerning situation where the PSNI switchboard number was used to call someone in an attempt at fraudulent activity," added Inspector Walker.
"Our enquiries into this report remain ongoing and we would appeal to the public to be alert to potential scams such as these and to contact police – as well as their bank and Action Fraud – if they believe they’ve been a victim of fraud."
The department reiterated standard security protocols to prevent community members from falling victim to similar impersonation tactics.
"Our advice is that you should never disclose your personal or financial details over the phone, in person, or by email, to someone you don’t know," stated Inspector Walker.
"Guarding your personal and banking details is essential."
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The official safety framework urges individuals to stop before sharing details, verify callers through independent lines, and report suspicious activities to Action Fraud or the police website.
