# Law enforcement impersonation phone scams

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/law-enforcement-impersonation-phone-scams
> Updated: 2026-10-09T10:06:25.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom and the United States have issued warnings regarding phone scams involving the impersonation of police and sheriff officers.

In Devon and Cornwall, fraudsters use spoofed numbers to claim victims are assisting in criminal investigations, often providing fake crime reference numbers to build trust. Dan Thorogood, head of contact services for Devon and Cornwall Police, noted that scammers can be “very convincing as well as persuasive and demanding.”

Similarly, in Atlantic County, New Jersey, scammers use caller ID spoofing and the names of current or retired officers to intimidate residents. These perpetrators may threaten victims with arrest warrants, unpaid taxes, or missed jury duties, often presenting forged court documents. They typically demand immediate payment via cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers, or cash.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-09: Atlantic County Sheriff warns of law enforcement impersonation scam

Atlantic County Sheriff Joe O’Donoghue is warning New Jersey residents about a phone scam where criminals impersonate law enforcement officers using spoofed caller IDs and real officer names.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/atlantic-county-sheriff-warns-of-law-enforcement-impersonation-scam

### 2026-09-24: Devon residents warned of police impersonation phone scams

Devon and Cornwall Police are warning residents of a phone scam where fraudsters impersonate officers using spoofed numbers to steal personal and financial information.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/devon-residents-warned-of-police-impersonation-phone-scams

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Cite as: Law enforcement impersonation phone scams. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/law-enforcement-impersonation-phone-scams