Telephone scams have become a nationwide epidemic, and no one is safe from being the next victim. There was recently a frightening wave of telephone fraud in the Paderborn district, in which three victims lost a total of around 80,000 euros. But what exactly is behind it and how can you protect yourself?

Shock calls: The fraudsters' scam

A 58-year-old man from the Paderborn district received a call that would change his life forever. A crying woman who claimed to be his daughter described to him the horror of a serious car accident. As soon as she hung up, two supposed legal representatives called, posing as judges and prosecutors. The 'daughter' was threatened with remand unless he paid a high bail amount.

He followed the instructions of the supposed legal representatives and handed over the money to the Paderborn district court in the hope of saving his daughter. But the relief he had hoped for did not materialize - he had fallen victim to a sophisticated telephone scam.

Repetition of the horror: The further victims

Similar methods were used to cause further harm. This time it was a 72-year-old woman and a 67-year-old man who also fell victim to this cruel scam. Again the daughter was allegedly involved in a serious accident, and this time there was a gruesome detail: a mother of children had died in another vehicle. Those affected were put under pressure by alleged prosecutors and police officers until they handed over the money.

The mask of professionalism: How the perpetrators acted

The perpetrators acted cleverly and were able to convince their victims. All victims reported that the callers spoke German without an accent and appeared very professional. The person collecting the money also spoke perfect German and seemed authentic.

Preventive measures: The campaign “Shocked on the phone? - Hang up!"

The Paderborn police warn urgently against such telephone scams and are conducting the campaign “Shocked on the phone? - Hang up!". She points out that an accident is never "handled" by the police and public prosecutor's office in the way that the fraudsters portray on the phone.

The police advise you to hang up immediately, call the family member who allegedly had an accident and file a report with the real police.

The police act: information material and educational work

In order to raise awareness of the problem, the Paderborn police have been distributing posters, flyers and postcards to companies and clubs throughout the Paderborn district for months. The message is clear: take the material with you and put it next to the phone to be reminded in case of a call.

Regular discussions with family members about this topic can also help keep the memory of this scam alive and potentially prevent future victims.

The threat continues: the WhatsApp scam

The threat from scammers doesn't stop on the phone. The so-called WhatsApp scam, in which a supposed family member sends a new cell phone number and “urgently” needs a money transfer, is also a growing threat. The police recommend not responding and blocking the number.

Conclusion

Telephone fraud is a frightening reality in our modern world. All of us, young and old, are potential victims. It is important that we learn to protect ourselves and our loved ones. After all, we are stronger when we are informed and stick together. So remember this next time you answer the phone – there could be eighty thousand reasons not to.

Source:

Press portal
Already read? Apparently an anniversary of the Cologne Zoo would be an occasion for a competition. You can win four tickets including a guided tour and feeding the animals. – At least that’s what you can read in advertisements on the “Cologne Zoo” Facebook page. Mimikama warns. Cologne Zoo: Beware of fake competitions on Facebook!


If you enjoyed this post and value the importance of well-founded information, become part of the exclusive Mimikama Club! Support our work and help us promote awareness and combat misinformation. As a club member you receive:

📬 Special Weekly Newsletter: Get exclusive content straight to your inbox.
🎥 Exclusive video* “Fact Checker Basic Course”: Learn from Andre Wolf how to recognize and combat misinformation.
📅 Early access to in-depth articles and fact checks: always be one step ahead.
📄 Bonus articles, just for you: Discover content you won't find anywhere else.
📝 Participation in webinars and workshops : Join us live or watch the recordings.
✔️ Quality exchange: Discuss safely in our comment function without trolls and bots.

Join us and become part of a community that stands for truth and clarity. Together we can make the world a little better!

* In this special course, Andre Wolf will teach you how to recognize and effectively combat misinformation. After completing the video, you have the opportunity to join our research team and actively participate in the education - an opportunity that is exclusively reserved for our club members!


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 )