They use different scams to get cash, valuables or their victims' account details. Here is an overview from the Paderborn police about telephone fraudsters and their various tricks to rip people off over the phone.
Shock calls
The most common reports were alleged victims who received a so-called “shock call”. The perpetrators in this case claim to be from the police. A family member caused a fatal traffic accident and would have to be imprisoned if bail was not paid immediately. The criminals demand thirty to forty thousand euros. They keep their victims on the phone as uninterrupted as possible and supposedly connect them to the public prosecutor's office - a trick to relieve themselves from the strenuous conversations and to confuse the victim and put them under massive pressure.
Burglar scam
Calls with the burglar scam are similar. Once again, telephone scammers pretending to be police officers claim that a break-in has occurred near the person being called. There are indications that a break-in is imminent on the person being called. And then the perpetrators ask about cash or valuables in the house or how much money is available in the account.
Telephone scammers pose as Europol investigators
Other fraudsters pose on the phone as bank employees, as employees of the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), as investigators from Europol or Interpol, or they claim to be from the technical support of a software company. Their target is usually the bank details, account number and either the password for internet banking or corresponding TAN numbers.
The social security scam
A new scam that Deutsche Rentenversicherung is warning about is also currently running: a recorded message is used to suggest to people called, usually on a cell phone, that their social security number, all of their assets and benefits are at risk of being blocked. In order to prevent this, you can supposedly get to a personal contact person at the social security office by selecting a menu.
Sales calls
Then there are the calls from lottery and gaming syndicates who provide the correct bank details of those they are calling and want to collect debts or close subscriptions.
“Mom, my phone is broken.”
“Fake chats” via WhatsApp are also reported to the police. "Hello mum. My phone is broken. That's why I have a new cell phone and a new number." The first, familiar-sounding text message from the scammers goes something like this. But then the supposed child asks for help in further messages. There is an urgent bill that needs to be paid and that is not yet possible with the new smartphone. The money – usually three to four-digit sums – would be returned the next day. Then comes the account number and amount that mom should transfer. The money then ends up in the perpetrators’ account.
Inform others about these telephone scams
It is important that the criminal scams are known to as many people as possible or that they are made known as quickly as possible. Relatives of older people can make valuable contributions.
What to do if a phone scammer calls?
With all of these variants of telephone fraud, it is important to hang up the phone immediately and not engage in any conversation. If possible, senior citizens should only answer known numbers and ignore all others.
The police never ask for valuables over the phone or collect bail in this way, EVER!
Other institutions also distance themselves from similar questions about personal assets or personal data.
The police inform
Unfortunately, there are a variety of other types of fraud - not just on the phone. There is comprehensive information about these phenomena and good prevention tips here: https://www.polizei-beratung.de/themen-und-tipps/betrug/
Source: Paderborn police
There is relevant information here! Fake cops on the other end of the line
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