Fraudsters in Chemnitz: Over 70,000 euros in damage to seniors!

Fraudsters in Chemnitz: Over 70,000 euros in damage to seniors!

A frightening scam recently came to an end in the Chemnitz, Erzgebirge and Zwickau region. According to the latest reports from the Free Press A 36-year-old suspect was arrested who is suspected of having committed a series of fraud crimes. The total damage amounts to more than 70,000 euros. The man, a German-Turk, posed as a bank employee in March 2023 and rang the doorbell of senior citizens in the area.

The climax of these unscrupulous actions took place on March 17th, when the perpetrator contacted a 98-year-old from Chemnitz-Grüna. The caller claimed there were serious irregularities in the senior's bank account and extracted sensitive information, including his personal identification number (PIN). To complete the fraud, he allegedly sent a “policeman” who picked up a debit card and several thousand euros in cash. There were a total of 20 recorded fraud offenses in the region between March 17 and 23, with cash being handed over in nine cases. Fortunately, many potential victims recognized the scam in time.

The development of the case

The Chemnitz criminal police reacted quickly and secured important data from ATMs where the stolen EC cards were used. These investigations led to the identification of the suspect. When he was arrested in North Rhine-Westphalia, the police also found stolen cash cards and pre-trial detention proceedings were initiated against him. The case is now being pursued by the Chemnitz public prosecutor's office and then by the Karlsruhe public prosecutor's office.

The scam in which perpetrators pose as police officers is not a new method. This is also reported by the Police advice. This approach involves fraudsters claiming over the phone that burglars are after the victims' savings. They also use technical means to display official emergency numbers and show fake ID cards. Victims are often given the impression that they are speaking to real officials.

Fraud prevention tips

The police have put together some simple but effective recommendations to avoid fraud. This includes:

• Unbekannte Personen nicht in die Wohnung lassen.
• Immer den Dienstausweis von angeblichen Amtspersonen verlangen.
• Bei Zweifeln stets die Behörde selbst anrufen.
• Am Telefon keine sensiblen finanziellen Informationen preisgeben.
• Im Zweifel auflegen.
• Kein Geld an unbekannte Personen übergeben.

In addition, the so-called “grandchild tricks” are also widespread, in which fraudsters pose as relatives and pressure them into transferring money. This makes it all the more important to provide information and create trust, especially among older people. Loud Police Hesse hat die Angst vor kriminellen Bedrohungen unter Senioren zugenommen, auch wenn sie statistisch gesehen seltener Opfer von Straftaten werden. This subjective perception influences the feeling of security and can reduce the quality of life of those affected.

Protection and security are important issues. For more information, resources and guides are available on preventive measures specifically tailored to seniors. They can not only make life safer, but also more relaxed.