Fraudal: police warn of dangerous shock calls in Geratal!

Fraudal: police warn of dangerous shock calls in Geratal!

This was the afternoon of the Ilmenau police on a worrying report on a so-called shock call, which put a 79-year-old woman in great excitement. With this perfidious attempt at fraud, the callers deceived that a nearby relative was involved in a fatal traffic accident and urgently needed financial support. The fraudsters demanded a deposit, which understandably put the senior citizen in panic. Fortunately, the woman succeeded in ending the conversation in good time so that she did not cause any financial damage. Nevertheless, the risk of such calls should not be underestimated: the police advise to clarify older relatives about these fraud stitches. Gotha Aktuell even reports an increasing number of such incidents.

What exactly are shock calls? These are attempts to fraud in which callers pretend to be relatives or representatives of authorities. The aim is to make the victims to hand over money or valuables, often under the pretext that they have to help a family member in an emergency. Older people who are put under pressure in such situations are often particularly affected. The police emphasize that fraudsters often mention a traffic accident and claim that the victim can only be treated against cash. In other variants it is claimed that a deposit is urgently needed, and the fraudsters put the victims under enormous time pressure to force quick decisions. As the page of Police advice center , many victims only recognize too late that they have fallen victim to fraud.

warnings from the police

The police recommend clear measures for everyone who is confronted with such calls. First, the emergency number 110 should be selected if there is uncertainty - and not the recall button on the phone. It is important to end the conversation immediately when you feel under pressure and do not shy away from contacting relatives under a known number. Personal or financial information should never be revealed on the phone. It is also important that no money or valuables are handed over to unknown people. The police officers emphasize that no callers may ever request cash or valuables on office. If the phone rings and such a claim is made, the local police station should be consulted immediately.

This fraud mesh has now also adopted a larger dimension, as the Federal Criminal Police Office explains in its current Warn unseits . The perpetrators often work in groups and alternate from the calls, which makes it difficult for the victims to recognize the fraud. It is all the more important to be vigilant and to sensitize the relatives to this problem. The police themselves are often contacted by concerned family members who worry about their older relatives.

Those who are affected by a shock call or have questions can also contact national sacrificial advice centers such as the "Weissen Ring". These offer support and advice - accessible at the nationwide number 116 006. It is of the utmost importance to find out early and to provide active information to protect the older fellow citizens in our society.