Scams have become an everyday phenomenon. A form of fraud that has become increasingly important in recent years is telephone fraud through shock calls. Older people in particular are the target of these unscrupulous criminals.
The mechanism of the shock call
The strategy behind the shock calls is as simple as it is perfidious: The callers pose as relatives, friends or acquaintances and claim to be in an emergency situation. They ask for immediate financial support and try to put pressure on their victims through emotional manipulation.
A frequently used trick is the so-called “ grandchild trick ”. The fraudsters pose as grandchildren or other close relatives who urgently need money, for example because they have had an accident or are in another emergency situation. Due to the urgency of the situation and the supposed familiarity of the caller, many older people are tempted to hand over money or valuables.
Call center fraud: The new dimension
This scam becomes even more sophisticated and therefore more dangerous when it is combined with so-called call center fraud. This is organized crime in which entire call centers are used to contact and defraud potential victims.
To obtain personal information from their victims and make their story more credible, scammers often use social engineering techniques. This includes spying on social media profiles and intercepting emails. With this information, fraudsters can, for example, provide detailed information about the victim's family to increase their credibility.
How can you protect yourself?
The fact is: There are effective protective measures against such attempted fraud. Here are some simple but effective tips
- Always be skeptical when asked for money, especially unexpected calls.
- Do not give out any personal information over the phone, especially regarding finances or valuables.
- Verify the caller's identity by calling back a number you know.
- Report suspicious calls to the police immediately.
Conclusion: Telephone fraud through shock calls is a serious and growing threat. This is especially true for older people. It is important to be aware of this danger and take appropriate precautions. Through vigilance and skepticism, we can all help curb this form of crime.
In keeping with the topic:
Fighting shock calls and grandchild tricks
Grandchild trick 2.0: New deeds every day via WhatsApp
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 )