Bad telephone scammers have taken advantage of the current fear and uncertainty surrounding the corona virus.
Corona served as a pretext: As the Rhein-Sieg district police warn, an 82-year-old woman from Niederkassel was cheated out of cash and jewelry on April 28, 2020. Around midday, the single woman received a phone call with a blocked number.
The male caller immediately began a confidential conversation without giving his name. The woman thought she recognized the voice as someone she knew who helped her with everyday matters. The caller described that he was in the clinic because of corona disease. His lungs would be severely damaged and his life could only be saved through an expensive operation.
The operation is said to cost 32,000 euros and he himself doesn't have that much money. The 82-year-old offered to help and promised to provide 10,000 euros as a private loan. She went to her bank and withdrew the money under a pretext to the suspicious bank teller. When she got home, she spoke again to her supposed acquaintance, who had been on the line throughout his victim's absence.
He then asked for jewelry and the victim packed gold jewelry worth around 5,000 euros into a bag. At 3:30 p.m. she met the person collecting her on Deutzer Straße near Martinstraße in Niederkassel-Rheidt.
A slim 25 to 30 year old man with short dark hair, around 165cm tall and wearing blue jeans, accepted the money and jewelry.
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He then left in an unknown direction. Almost half an hour later, the actual acquaintance appeared at the 82-year-old's house because he was worried because his acquaintance's telephone line had been constantly busy for several hours. At that moment it dawned on the woman from Niederkassel that she had been cheated.
The police are looking for witnesses who can provide information about the crime. Tips to the police on 02241 541-3221.
In this case, the so-called grandchild trick modified. In this new scam, the fraudsters pose as relatives or acquaintances who have been infected with the virus and are now in a hospital. Due to their illness, they urgently needed money for treatment or expensive medication. Since they would be in the hospital themselves, they could only send a messenger to pick up the money or valuables. To protect older people, talk to them about the methods used by con artists.
The police advise:
- Make sure the caller is really a relative or acquaintance. Always ask the caller to give their own name.
- Call him back using the number you know or the number you chose yourself!
- Be suspicious if someone asks you for money over the phone.
- Simply hang up the phone as soon as the person you are talking to, e.g. B. often an alleged grandchild demands money from you!
- Never give money or valuables to people you do not know.
- If you hear a call that seems suspicious, inform the police immediately on 110.
- Be sure to contact the police if you have become a victim and file a report.
In keeping with the topic: “Fake police officers” and “grandchild trick”; Fraud has been flooding the region since the beginning of the year
Source: Rhein-Sieg District Police Authority
Article image: Shutterstock / By JHDT Productions
Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )