Dear scammers: No, there are no tips here on how you can do it!
The question that comes up again and again among many users is how telephone fraudsters always manage to persuade seniors over the phone to withdraw their savings from the bank in order to hand them over to a complete stranger. Many people say to themselves “That could NEVER happen to my grandma/grandpa”, but that is a bit too naive, because the people on the other end of the line are real professionals!
Well-spoken telephone scammers
According to the police the victims are mostly called from call centers abroad. There are fraudsters there who are used to tricking people over the phone and using it to get their belongings. Such call centers seem to be sprouting up like mushrooms at the moment. Very articulate telephone scammers without any accent pose as police officers, public prosecutors, notaries, relatives or other trusted people. With their skillful conversation, the callers succeed in persuading those they are calling to hand over money, jewelry or valuables to people who come to their front door. Or you will be asked to have your valuables ready for collection at your front door as quickly as possible.
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Targeted search for potential victims
Most people are surprised by such reports, but someone always falls for these scams. How do telephone scammers operate? They specifically search phone books for the first names of presumably older people. With seniors, the chances of criminals increasing are that those called are more likely to respond in good faith and helpfully to an alleged emergency with financial support. Or that, through trained authority behavior, they follow the instructions of the “wrong police officers” on the phone without first asking critical questions or checking the questionable instructions by calling the police. No wonder: the callers sound serious and sometimes use a lot of pressure to unsettle their victims. In addition, they use names of real officials to make their story seem even more credible. This is how they want to gain the trust of those they call.
Frightening stories and emotional pressure
The fake police officers talk on the phone about break-ins in the neighborhood. Two perpetrators were arrested. The investigators are said to have found the name and address of the person they called. The telephone scammers claim that the valuables are no longer safe at home. A police officer will come by and get the things.
Another scam is that the fraudsters talk about criminal bank employees on the phone. That's why those called should get money and jewelry from the bank's safes so as not to lose them. The victims should leave the items on their doorstep and a police officer would then pick them up.
Or the callers say that someone in the family had a serious accident abroad and that money needs to be paid immediately so that the relative doesn't have to go to prison or the insurance is paid.
How can you protect yourself?
The police give tips:
- Don't talk about your financial situation on the phone.
- Don't let yourself be put under pressure.
- Hang up the phone if someone asks for money or if you have even the slightest doubt.
- After such a call, inform someone you trust and the police immediately. The police will receive your report on the emergency number 110 or at any police station.
- Dial 110 yourself. Under no circumstances should you use the callback button, otherwise you may end up back with the scammers.
- Beforehand, end the call yourself by hanging up or pressing the correct key.
- Write down the number of a person you trust, your police station and the emergency number 110 so that they are handy next to the phone.
- Never give money to strangers or alleged police officers. The police will never ask you for money or other valuables. The police will never call you on 110.
- Write down the phone number that appears on the phone display.
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How else can you protect yourself?
- Check your telephone directory entries and change them so that first names and addresses are no longer listed.
- Raise awareness among acquaintances and relatives so that they are not surprised if you receive a call. Without the element of surprise, it is more difficult for telephone scammers to unsettle their victims.
The police provide even more information and tips in an information sheet
at https://www.polizei-beratung.de/fileadmin/Medien/285-IB-Vorsicht-Falscher-Polizist-am-telefon.pdf .
The police have a video online of how the telephone fraudsters operate:
How does a #telephone fraudster work?
And how do you protect yourself? https://t.co/4tRRVOYPXL https://t.co/mtlu4Cfr9m pic.twitter.com/iSDgdV0ueN
— Reutlingen Police (@PolizeiRT) October 13, 2017
If you prefer to get information from a comic, the police recommend the address https://www.polizei-beratung.de/fileadmin/Medien/293-SF-Comic-Falscher-Polizist.pdf .
Source: PP/Ulm Police Headquarters
Article image: pathdoc / Shutterstock
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