“Shock caller” arrested by the criminal police

A 32-year-old “shock caller” was arrested by the criminal police on Friday afternoon, October 14th, after a so-called “shock call” in Heilbronn. The suspect is accused of being a member of a gang that systematically defrauds, particularly older people, through telephone calls.

Because she recognized the "shock caller's" intention to deceive, a 58-year-old did not fall for the scam.

When the woman received a call on her landline from her alleged daughter, who was said to have caused a fatal accident, the woman called the police on her cell phone. While the fraudsters continued in typical fashion, with a supposed policewoman taking over the conversation and explaining to the 58-year-old that her daughter would need a deposit of 100,000 euros in order to be released, the criminal police were already on the way. After the 58-year-old followed the instructions of the alleged police officer, the suspect appeared at the agreed handover point in the Heilbronn center at around 1:58 p.m. At the moment of handover she was arrested by criminal police officers.

The 32-year-old “shock caller” was brought before a judge at the Heilbronn district court on Saturday, October 15th.

This issued the arrest warrant requested by the Heilbronn public prosecutor and executed it. The woman was taken to a correctional facility. The investigation is ongoing.

To protect yourself from the “fake police officer” scam, the Baden-Württemberg State Criminal Police Office and the Heilbronn Police Headquarters advise:

The police will never call you on the police emergency number 110.

• Don't let yourself be put under pressure on the phone. Hang up the phone and get rid of scammers.
• Become suspicious of requests for:
  o quick decisions,
  o contact with strangers, and
  o the release of personal information, cash, jewelry, or valuables.
• Dial 110 and report the matter. Do not use the call back button, otherwise you will end up back with the perpetrators.
• Do not talk about your personal or financial circumstances on the phone.
• Consult with your family or people you trust.
• Contact your family or people using the numbers you know
• Never tell callers the correct names of your family members

source

Joint press release from the Heilbronn public prosecutor's office and the Heilbronn police headquarters

Also read: Shock call: Cries for help from the supposed daughter convinced the senior citizen