Hidden numbers make genuine police calls harder to recognise

People are increasingly wary of calls from withheld numbers, but genuine calls from the Austrian police may also appear as “Anonymous” or “Unknown”, ORF Kärnten reports.

The police’s central telephone system is one reason. Calls made from a station’s landline do not always transmit a number that can be called back directly. As a result, recipients may find it difficult to tell whether the caller is a genuine officer or a fraudster posing as one.

Police press spokesman Werner Pucher said people who are unsure can ask to call the station back. The police would never demand money or other valuables, he said. Genuine calls usually concern arranging appointments or clarifying matters such as possible found items.

The police advise people not to allow themselves to be put under pressure during an unexpected call and to verify the caller’s identity if in doubt.