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What to do if…
police ask you to identify property and you feel uneasy or suspicious

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Pause, do not attend immediately, and verify the request through trusted police contact details before you go anywhere. If it is genuine, ask for the identification to happen in a safer, controlled way, such as at a police station front counter by appointment.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t go anywhere “right now” because you feel rushed, guilty, or embarrassed.
  • Don’t call back a number the caller gives you, or use links they text or email you.
  • Don’t give bank details, passwords, PINs, login codes, payment details, or remote access to your device.
  • Don’t agree to meet in a car, a secluded place, a private address, or somewhere that does not feel clearly official.
  • Don’t hand original documents, cards, cash, or property to an unverified person.
  • Don’t argue with the caller about whether they are genuine; end the contact and verify independently.

What to do now

  1. Ask for the basic details, then stop the contact. Ask for the officer’s name, rank or role, collar or staff number, police force, station or department, and the crime or incident reference number. Say: “I’ll verify this through official channels and call back.”
  2. Break the connection safely. If this was a phone call, hang up. Wait five minutes before calling police yourself, or use a different phone, because fraudsters can sometimes try to keep a line open.
  3. Verify using a trusted route. Call 101, use Police.uk to find the relevant force, or use the force’s official website. Ask whether the officer or staff member is real and whether there is a genuine appointment request about property identification.
  4. Check the request itself. Ask where the property is, what type of property it is, whether the crime or incident reference matches, where you are being asked to attend, and whether the appointment can happen at a police station front counter or another clearly official public police location.
  5. Treat pressure as a warning sign. If the person gets angry about verification, tells you not to call 101, asks for money or bank details, wants secrecy, sends links, or asks you to travel somewhere unusual, stop engaging.
  6. Report suspected fraud or impersonation. If you are in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, report suspected cyber crime or fraud to Report Fraud. If you are in Scotland, report fraud to Police Scotland, usually via 101. If someone is at your door now and you feel unsafe, call 999.
  7. If the request is genuine, set safer terms. Ask for a named appointment, the station or front counter location, what you need to bring, whether a staff member can meet you at reception, and whether photos, serial numbers, or distinctive details can be checked first.
  8. Bring support if you attend. Tell someone where you are going, the appointment time, the station or front counter location, and when you expect to leave. You can take someone with you, though they may need to wait in a public area.
  9. Keep a short record. Write down the date, time, number used, names given, collar or staff number, crime or incident reference, and what you were asked to do. Keep screenshots of texts or emails without clicking links.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide now whether to make a statement, support a prosecution, or take any further part in a case.
  • You do not need to prove to the caller that you are cooperative.
  • You do not need to attend the same day unless it is genuinely convenient and you feel safe.
  • You do not need to sort out ownership, insurance, compensation, or replacement property while you are still verifying the request.

Important reassurance

Feeling uneasy is a reasonable reason to slow down. A genuine contact should not need you to ignore independent verification, rush into an unusual meeting, or share financial or security details.

Scope note

These are first steps for checking legitimacy, avoiding scams, and arranging a safer pause before attending. Later decisions about statements, ownership disputes, complaints, or legal rights may need specialist help.

Important note

This guide gives general information for immediate harm-prevention and safer decision-making. It is not legal, financial, security, or professional advice. If you feel in immediate danger, call 999.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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