Shock calls in Thuringia: Fraudsters steal millions through grandchild tricks!

Shock calls in Thuringia: Fraudsters steal millions through grandchild tricks!

The scams never end, and a particularly perfidious example is the “shock call” variant. In Thuringia, con artists stole over 4.9 million euros in 2023. The State Criminal Police Office reported that around 5,700 fraudulent calls were registered in 2023, while the number fell to 3,449 in 2024. Despite the reduction in calls, fraudsters were able to obtain more money per call. It remains unclear why shock calls fell last year. A possible explanation could be a raid in Poland involving several European investigators that took place between November 27 and December 8, 2023. The police have increased their efforts to prevent and disseminate information and recently held an information event in Suhl.

What exactly are “shock calls”? This scam is designed to trick victims into believing that a close family member is in a life-threatening emergency situation. The perpetrators often pose as these relatives or even as police officers. They put the victims under extreme time pressure and urge those they call to provide urgent financial help. For example, they pretend that a family member was involved in a traffic accident or was in trouble with the law. A payment of up to 100,000 euros is often required in order to pay alleged deposits or compensation.

Recognize warning signals

The callers take advantage of the victims' trust and give the impression that quick action is all they need to get help. They often involve several people who take turns on the phone - this usually starts with a tearful "family member" and ends with a caller who claims to be a police officer or prosecutor. The combination of emotional pressure and fear of causing something bad is thought to cause victims to hand over money or valuables.

• Die Polizei empfiehlt, keine sensiblen Informationen über Geld oder Wertgegenstände am Telefon preiszugeben.
• Im Zweifel sollten Betroffene immer bei bekannter Nummer zurückrufen, um Gewissheit zu erhalten.
• Es ist wichtig, nicht zuzulassen, dass Unbekannte in die eigene Wohnung gelangen.

Particularly good to know: The police or other officials never request cash or valuables over the telephone. The message is clear: do not allow yourself to be pressured, hang up and seek help from the local police station. There are helpful contact points for those affected, such as the “WEISSER RING”, which can be reached on 116 006. You can also find further valuable tips and information on the Police Crime Prevention website.

For all of us, this means being vigilant and remaining cautious when dealing with strangers. More dangerous than losing money is trusting in benign intentions. Don't let yourself be lured into a trap - inform yourself and warn others!