As of: April 9, 2024, 7:31 a.m
By: Natascha Berger
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A senior citizen handed over 10,000 euros to a supposed police officer - because she thought she could help her son. The police give three warning signs on how the fraud can be exposed.
Hermsdorf – Con artists never seem to run out of ideas when it comes to conning people out of their money. While nasty scams via email or even dating apps are increasing, telephone scams also remain a popular way for criminals to rip off people. Seniors in particular often fall victim to scams. Now the Thuringian police are warning of a retro trick that made a pensioner from Hermsdorf 10,000 euros poorer.
Fake police officer: Pensioner gives 10,000 euros in cash to con artist
The 87-year-old woman received a call last Wednesday (April 3, 2024). An unknown voice on the phone identified itself as a police officer. The alleged officer told the pensioner that her son had caused a fatal traffic accident and was now in police custody. However, her son could be released again with a bail payment of 10,000 euros. The pensioner believed the false police officer's story and handed over the large sum in cash to a stranger on the same day. The investigation has begun, but the perpetrator has not yet been caught.
Fraud by fake police officers over the telephone is an older scam that is unfortunately tried and tested for fraudsters. What is newer, for example, is the so-called “pig butchering” – people have already lost their assets as a result of this fraud.
Seniors are popular victims for con artists. A woman in Thuringia has now been cheated out of 10,000 euros. © IMAGO/Alexandra Roth
Police warn of fraud by fake police officers: This is how the scam can be seen through
The police in Thuringia warn against the supposed police officers on the phone and give three elementary warnings on how to see through the fraud: On the one hand, mistrust should arise as soon as money is to be handed over to strangers. The police also say: A bail payment, as seen in US series, for example, does not exist in German criminal law. In addition, neither relatives nor the police would make such demands for money over the phone. In addition, after calls of this type, you should always contact relatives to check whether the information given on the phone is true.
The police warnings at a glance:
Do not hand over money to strangers
Make sure you check back with your relatives
Keep in mind: there are no bail payments in German criminal law
The police do not require payments over the phone
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Seniors are popular victims of fraudsters: consumer advice centers also warn
As the consumer advice center reports, fraudsters often use special techniques when calling fake police officers so that the victims are shown the emergency number 110 on the phone. For many people, the call seems to have a trustworthy origin. Suspicious victims are often put under pressure. The supposed police officers then accuse the person on the other end of the receiver of obstructing police investigations.
In Germany, older people are often the target of criminal con artists. As the State Criminal Police Office reports, in Hesse alone last year, telephone fraud caused a total loss of 19.7 million euros. Seniors are popular victims because criminals hope to be able to grab more assets from this target group. The con artists also rely on pensioners' willingness to help. In addition to the fake police officer, another common trick is the grandchild scam or the so-called shock call.
(nbe)