A ringing telephone is often nothing special. But for a 77-year-old woman in Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck, it became the scene of two confusing and frightening incidents that disrupted her confidence and peace.
A day that changed everything
It all started on an inconspicuous Wednesday when the lady received a phone call from what appeared to be an emergency. Her daughter, she was told, was involved in a fatal traffic accident with a pregnant woman. Worse, she would go to prison if 25,000 euros were not paid immediately. But wait, that wasn't all. The caller even threatened violence if payment was not made.
An alarm went off in her head. Fortunately, she saw through this attempt at fraud and was not intimidated. Instead of panicking, she went to the police and filed a report. The matter seemed settled for the moment.
The telephone disaster continues
That same evening, while she was still processing the day's events, the phone rang again. This time the caller claimed to be from the Gelsenkirchen public prosecutor's office. He informed her that a suspect had been identified in the case. According to the instructions, the elderly woman should hand over money to a “police officer” to help with the arrest.
Can you imagine how confusing that must have been for her? She was told that the police officer would come to her house at midnight to collect the money. In her innocence and believing that she was really helping the police, she handed her valuable coin collection to the alleged police officer through a window in her apartment. She was even on the phone with the “public prosecutor” during the entire handover.
A rude awakening
The calm after the storm was deceptive. After she received no further calls from the alleged prosecutor, suspicions grew. With the support of a neighbor, she called the police again and filed a report.
Unfortunately, the fraudster is still at large. He was described as being around 1.70 meters tall, with short hair, wearing gray jeans, a black blazer and a surgical mask. If anyone has information about this incident, please contact the responsible criminal investigation office.
Protection against fraudsters: an urgent appeal
The real police will never ask you for money or valuables! This cannot be emphasized enough. If someone tries to manipulate or pressure you over the phone, alarm bells should ring. And another tip: Always consult family or neighbors and, if in doubt, contact the police directly.
Conclusion
Fraud is as old as humanity itself. But in times when communication technology is developing rapidly, fraud methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated. It is essential to remain vigilant and prepare yourself against such incidents. The most important thing is to always question things critically and, if in doubt, it is better to contact the real police too often rather than too little. Stay safe and don't let yourself get carried away!
Source:
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