Danger! Scam: Shock calls in the Erzgebirge and Central Saxony!

Danger! Scam: Shock calls in the Erzgebirge and Central Saxony!

In the last few days there have been alarming reports of so-called shock calls in the region around Döbeln, Olbernhau, Marienberg and Ehrenfriedersdorf. This perfidious scam, in which callers pretend to be police officers or close relatives, has already led to fraudsters being able to steal several thousand euros on Tuesday. The police found that many of those called recognized the fraud and quickly ended the calls, but unfortunately an 85-year-old senior woman fell for the deception.

The call in question occurred when an unknown person pretended to be a police officer and told the woman that her son had caused a traffic accident. To protect him from imminent imprisonment, the fraudster demanded a bail payment of almost 100,000 euros. Unfortunately, trusting the caller's words, the senior citizen handed over a five-figure amount to an unknown collector before she could realize that she had been scammed. The fraud was only discovered when the woman asked the police about her son, as freipresse.de reports.

Detect and prevent

As the police and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) warn, dramatic stories are often told in such shock calls in order to put those called under pressure. These are often fictitious traffic accidents that supposedly require an immediate payment of money. Scammers know how to take advantage of their victims' nervousness and fear. The pressure to act quickly causes many people, especially older citizens, to make rash decisions, which encourages perpetrators to hand over money or valuables. In polizei-beratung.de the most common scams and risks of these telephone scams are discussed.

To protect yourself, if you suspect something, you are strongly advised to call 110 and never use the callback button. If pressure builds up, you should end the conversation immediately. Relatives should be contacted at known telephone numbers to verify the information. It is particularly important not to discuss personal or financial information on the phone and never to hand over money or valuables to strangers.

Together against fraud

The overarching goal of these scammers is to financially deprive older people. The BKA emphasizes that procedures for treating an accident victim never depend on an advance payment. The perpetrators often work in groups, taking turns on the phone and believing that this way they will gain more trust. The reports and warnings on the BKA website are essential for anyone who wants to protect themselves from this scam.

Anyone affected by a shock call or even a victim should contact the local police station immediately. There are also so-called victim advice centers such as the “WEISSE RING” (telephone number 116 006). Staying informed and acting vigilantly can help thwart such scams.