Fraudulent scams: Police warn of shock calls in Dessau-Roßlau!

Fraudulent scams: Police warn of shock calls in Dessau-Roßlau!

In recent months, a worrying increase in fraud in Saxony-Anhalt has caused a stir. Older people in particular are often the target group of unscrupulous fraudsters. Loud MDR Kay-Uwe Bremisch, chief inspector in Dessau, is currently processing around 30 fraud reports with his team. The perpetrators work in a division of labor and use different tricks to con unsuspecting victims out of their money.

The newly founded investigative group “Aprum” is dedicated to combating this crime. The group enables closer cooperation with the public prosecutor's office and has thus created uniform standards. There were several attempts at fraud, particularly in the Anhalt-Bitterfeld district, but fortunately there were no successful cases. In Dessau-Roßlau, however, seven fraud attempts have recently been registered, with those called being between 72 and 88 years old.

The tricks of the fraudsters

Perpetrators use a variety of methods to gain trust from their victims. The most common scams include the well-known grandchild trick, in which the perpetrators pose as close relatives, and the latest variant of shock calls. The callers claim that a family member is acutely ill or urgently needs medication, thus putting the victims under massive pressure to obtain cash or valuables.

The information of the BKA confirm the warning about shock calls: The fraudsters pose not only as relatives in need, but also as officials of state institutions. Victims are often led to believe that they urgently need help because a relative is involved in a bad incident.

The callers put their victims under pressure, often demanding large amounts, which can be up to 100,000 euros. They often act in groups and vomit on each other while talking. These perfidious callers manage to keep the pressure so high that the victims often act rashly and even hand over money or valuable items to those collecting them.

Precautions

The police strongly advise you not to respond to such calls and not to allow yourself to be put under pressure. Hang up and check the situation by contacting family members at known phone numbers. The Federal Criminal Police Office also gives valuable tips: Do not reveal any personal or financial details over the phone and do not let strangers into your apartment.

If there is any suspicion, those affected should immediately contact the local police station or seek support from advice centers such as the “WEISSER RING”. These preventative measures are crucial to protect yourself and others from fraudsters’ schemes. Remember: Be wary of requests asking for assets and always keep a good hand in assessing the situation.