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Fraudsters in seniors' homes: collecting donations and stealing exposed!
On July 15, 2025, two men tried to deceive senior citizens with donation fraud in Hohen Neuendorf. Police are investigating.
Fraudsters in seniors' homes: collecting donations and stealing exposed!
In Hohen Neuendorf, more precisely in the Borgsdorf district, yesterday morning (11:45 a.m.) two brazen men tried to make a profit in a senior living community through false appeals for donations. How City report Reportedly, the perpetrators said they worked on a voluntary basis for an organization that takes care of deaf and mute people. While one of the men distracted the seniors, the other went after the loot in the residents' apartments.
An attentive employee of the facility noticed what was going on and spoke to the men. He was able to hold the 19-year-old Romanian, while his accomplice was able to escape with unexpected luck. The police later found a significant amount of stolen items on his person, which were immediately returned to the seniors. The criminal police have started investigating three cases of fraud and theft.
Special caution for seniors
Older people are often the focus of tricksters and fraudsters. According to the North Rhine-Westphalia police, these acts are particularly worrying because many seniors often live alone and often fall victim to such schemes within their own four walls. Contrary to the widespread fear of violence on the streets, the risk of being mugged in a big city environment is relatively low. Instead, older citizens must be more wary of attempts at deception in their homes, as fraudsters often want to use tricks to get into their homes as stated here.
There are different methods that perpetrators can take. For example, they fake emergencies or pretend to be tradesmen who absolutely need access to the apartment. Others try to fake a personal relationship with the victim in order to be invited. The Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth points out that senior-friendly prevention measures are urgently needed. The brochure "Guess Who's Turn?", published by the ministry, gives valuable tips on how seniors can protect themselves from fraudsters and shows how to recognize these identity thieves the ministry informs.
These events should serve as a warning to all seniors, no matter where they live. Wisdom like “It is better to be safe than sorry” are not just sayings, but should be internalized in everyday life. Fraudsters are often professional and well-practiced at outsmarting their victims.