The Honeydew CPF has issued an alert warning residents of a scam where criminals pretend to be police detectives to extort money from unsuspecting residents. In the alert, the Honeydew CPF public relations officer, Michael Steyn, explains the details of the crime.

The scam typically involves a call from someone claiming to be a police detective, alleging that a serious crime, often rape, has been opened against the person who has been called. To appear legitimate and convince the victims, the scammers provide fake badge numbers as a tactic to gain the victims’ trust.

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The caller then threatens that legal action or an arrest will be made unless the victim pays a fee to “make the case go away”. The police have confirmed that its members will never ask for money to drop a case or prevent an arrest, and that if someone is asking for payment, people should know that it’s a scam.

Residents are advised not to make any payments or share personal or banking details if they receive such a call. Instead, they should ask for the caller’s full name, police station and case number, and independently contact the police station concerned to verify the information.

Additionally, the police Crime Stop hotline on 08600 10111 can be used to report any suspicious calls. Where possible, residents should provide the scammer’s phone number or any other relevant details.