No one is safe; scams exist and are on the rise. On one side are those who try to identify and eliminate them, and on the other are those who go to great lengths to bypass every defense mechanism in order to strike again—especially targeting the most vulnerable.
Scams are a menace; they spread online, over the phone, and even show up at your front door.
The Principality of Monaco considers safety to be one of the cornerstones of the quality of life it offers to those who choose to live there. It is one of the safest countries in the world, and as such, it must contend with all kinds of attempts aimed at deceiving, defrauding, and stealing from victims who fall prey to scams. Strengthening defenses and protecting the most vulnerable people and their property is a daily commitment.
The latest alert comes directly from Monaco’s law enforcement agency, the Sureté Publique, and the statement issued is a call for the entire population to exercise the utmost caution. These are fraudulent phone calls in which individuals pose as police officers.
This is a technique known as “spoofing,” which allows the official number of the police switchboard to appear on the phone screen, even though the call does not actually originate from law enforcement.
By pretending to be involved in an ongoing investigation or a suspected case of bank fraud, these fake officers try to create a sense of urgency to obtain personal information, bank details, or PIN codes—or to trick potential victims into handing over money or valuables.
Therefore, never provide your sensitive personal information over the phone, and never hand over money or valuables to anyone claiming to be a police officer.
It is recommended that you end the call and immediately contact the Monaco Public Security Directorate by dialing 17.