Discussing the troubling trend, Chief Superintendent Amanda Wolf, Head of Report Fraud Operations, said: “Fraudsters are increasingly successful when they can make their approach feel ordinary. A call about an account issue, a delivery problem or suspicious activity can catch any of us off guard, particularly when it appears to come from a brand we know and trust.
“The best defence is to pause. Criminals want people to react quickly; we want people to take a moment, challenge what they’re being told and verify it through a trusted route.
“Whether somebody claims to be from Amazon, your bank, the police or any other organisation, don’t feel pressured into acting immediately. End the conversation, find the genuine contact details yourself and make contact independently. If there is a legitimate reason for the contact, the caller will understand why you want to verify who you’re speaking to and call back using a trusted and published phone number.
“A few moments of caution can make all the difference.”