The scam using the WhatsApp messenger service always follows the same pattern. Those affected receive a chat message from a supposedly familiar sender - in the current case from the supposed daughter. However, this message comes from an unknown number. It says something like this: “My old cell phone is broken, this is my new cell phone number, delete the old one and please save it.”
After this first message, the perpetrators establish a short, irrelevant chat communication to build trust. So the “false daughter” managed to convince the mother on Tuesday that the chat was with the real daughter.
The trust was exploited: over 3,000 euros were transferred to fraudsters
The perpetrators used the trust to convert their criminal legend into real euros. Claiming that they cannot access their own online banking because their cell phone is broken, they ask for an urgent bill to be transferred. “You’ll get the money back immediately tomorrow, mom,” is the perpetrators’ “insurance policy.” First, a small bill is due, which in this case was also transferred by the victim to the account sent in the chat on the same day. A larger bill arrived a short time later in the same manner. On Wednesday, the wrong daughter WhatsApped another request to make a transfer.
In the evening the real daughter called and the fraud was discovered. At this point, the perpetrators had already stolen over 3,000 euros.
The police advise:
- You should be careful if you are contacted by an unknown number via a messenger service. In such a case, ask your relative personally about the contact details you know.
- Do not immediately add a strange number as a contact in your address book.
- As soon as you are asked to pay money via messenger services, be absolutely suspicious and stop communication immediately.
The district police authority repeatedly warns against fraudsters who repeatedly manage to take their victims by surprise using different, sometimes perfidious methods. Comprehensive information and prevention tips on scams can be found on the Paderborn Police homepage .
Source:
Press portal
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