Despite all the warnings, fraud attempts through shock calls are always successful. Unfortunately, here are some current examples.
Shocking call in Osnabrück
On Wednesday afternoon, the phone of a 91-year-old from Osnabrück rang on “Wüstenstrasse” around 4:30 p.m. The caller pretended to be a police officer and told the gentleman that his daughter had caused a traffic accident and was now in prison. For the daughter to be released, a deposit of 50,000 euros would have to be paid. The senior promised the caller a lower five-figure sum.
The alleged police officer then announced that an employee from the court would collect the money and that the gentleman should show up at the front door at an agreed time. At around 5:15 p.m., the supposed employee appeared at the pensioner's address coming from the direction of “Rehmstrasse”. The victim handed the stranger an envelope containing cash. The unknown person who picked up the car then left again in the direction of “Rehmstrasse”. A few hours after the handover, the 91-year-old contacted his daughter and the fraud was discovered.
Perpetrator description
The person collecting the money was described by the injured party as follows:
- masculine
- 30-40 years old
- light skin color
- approx. 175cm tall
- dark blonde, short hair slicked back
- no beard, no glasses
- grey/brown trousers
- dark, hip-length jacket
- Language: accent-free German
The police are looking for witnesses who noticed suspicious people or vehicles on “Wüstenstrasse” or “Rehmstrasse” on Wednesday. The money was collected at approximately 5:15 p.m. Tips can be received at 0541/327-3303 (daytime) or 0541/327-2115.
Shock call in Mönchengladbach: Fake police officers
On Wednesday, January 18th, fraudsters deprived a 78-year-old Giesenkirchen woman of a five-figure amount of cash and various gold jewelry. To do this, they pretended to be policewomen and invented an accident that was supposedly caused by the elderly woman's daughter.
At around 6 p.m., the 78-year-old received an anonymous call on her landline phone. A female voice spoke up, identifying herself as a police officer. The alleged policewoman explained to the elderly woman that her daughter had caused a traffic accident. In order to avoid a prison sentence for her daughter, the senior citizen had to pay a five-figure sum in cash. In the background, the 78-year-old heard a female voice that was crying loudly and repeatedly calling out “Mom.”
Emotional exceptional situation
Assuming that her daughter was actually in an emergency situation, the elderly woman agreed on a handover time. At around 7 p.m., she handed a woman she didn't know a five-figure amount of cash and various gold jewelry in a blue plastic bag at the front door.
The Mönchengladbach police warn: Real police officers would never make such calls and would not ask anyone to hand over cash, jewelry or other valuables. Please educate older people in your environment! If you receive such calls yourself or are unsure whether you have a criminal on the phone, contact the police or a trusted relative immediately. The bail system outlined by the perpetrators does not exist in Germany.
You can also find important prevention tips and information about fraud here: https://www.polizei-beratung.de/themen-und-tipps/betrug/betrug-durch-falsche-polizisten/
Source:
Osnabrück Police Inspectorate , Mönchengladbach Police https://www.presseportal.de/blaulicht/pm/30127/5420597
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