Scammers are inventive in their choice of scam and are sometimes extremely persistent. They put their victims under massive pressure and deliberately exploit the helpfulness of older people. "Grandchild trick", "fake police officer", "fake bank employee" or "tradesman trick" are just a few examples of criminal schemes.
One of the most common scams is still the "fake police officer trick". The perpetrators pretend to be police officers on the phone (in one variant as Europol/Interpol employees) and pretend that criminals are after the victims' savings.
Fake police officers describe, for example, the arrest of foreign burglary gangs where lists of potential burglary victims have been found. They ask the victims to hand over valuables and cash to a supposed colleague "temporarily" and only for protection. They pretend to the victims that they are obliged to help in order to arrest the "perpetrators". In some cases, the victims are persuaded to take all their assets home from the bank, as bank employees are supposed to be among the alleged criminals.
The fraudsters sometimes increase the psychological pressure on their victims for days by making numerous phone calls to persuade them under various pretexts to hand over money and valuables to a stranger who also pretends to be a police officer.
The perpetrators often use a special technique that causes the police emergency number 110 or another local telephone number to appear on the caller's telephone display. Fake police ID cards are sometimes shown at the front door to gain access to the victim's home.
There have also been an increasing number of cases in which fraudsters put their victims under massive pressure with "shock calls". The fraudsters pretend to be a relative (usually a daughter/son or grandson) or a police officer or lawyer in charge of a case and pretend to be in an emergency situation. They want to get the callers to hand over money or valuables, such as expensive jewelry.
The callers report a traffic accident, for example, as a result of which a family member needs immediate surgery. However, the operation can only be carried out if it is paid for in cash beforehand. In other scenarios, the relative is said to have caused a traffic accident or committed a crime, for example. The false relative often describes this dramatically and in a tear-choked voice on the phone. In order to avoid a prison sentence, bail should be posted immediately. A messenger is then sent to hand over the money.
Our advice: Hang up immediately. And: Inform the real police.
Scammers also repeatedly try to impersonate bank employees. For example, they tell their potential victims that there have been suspicious debits from their account and that the bank now needs the bank card and PIN to "solve the problem". The card must be handed over to a messenger.
To protect yourself from fraudsters, the police recommend:
- Never let strangers into your home.
- Don't allow yourself to be put under pressure on the phone. Just hang up.
- Never hand over money to unknown people.
- The police will never ask you for money.
- Never hand over your bank card to strangers and never tell anyone your PIN.
- Do not disclose any details about your financial situation on the phone.
- Ask alleged officials, for example police officers, for their ID card and check it carefully for print, photo and stamp.
- If you have the slightest doubt, call the authority from which the alleged official comes. Find out the telephone number of the authority yourself or have it given to you by directory assistance. Important: Have the visitor wait outside the locked door while you do this.
Another frequently used scam is the so-called "grandchild trick". Here, too, the possible consequences for the victims are often existential. They can lose very large sums of money or even be robbed of their life savings. Using the words "Guess who's talking" or similar phrases, fraudsters call mostly elderly people who live alone, pretending to be relatives, grandchildren or even good acquaintances and asking for cash at short notice. The reason given is a financial bottleneck or an emergency, for example an accident, a car or computer purchase or an illness. The situation is always presented as extremely urgent. The victims are often put under massive pressure through repeated calls. As soon as the victim wants to pay, a messenger is announced to collect the money. If the victim does not have the requested amount to hand, they should go to the bank immediately and withdraw the money there.
Scammers often try to make contact via messenger services such as WhatsApp. The scam then starts with a text message from an unknown number with this or similar wording: "Hi mom, I have a new phone number..."
The potential victim is asked to save the new number. Later, the next WhatsApp message is received, for example, stating that an outstanding bill of several thousand euros urgently needs to be paid. The victim is then asked to transfer the money to an account named by the alleged relative...
Do not respond to these demands! Please take note of the prevention tips in the "Messenger fraud" information sheet linked on this page.
"Doorstep fraud" or the "fake tradesman" are other methods used to sell overpriced services or products or steal valuables from older people in particular. The perpetrators appear in very different roles: Sometimes they pretend to be a respectably dressed businessman, sometimes they present themselves as a tradesman in work clothes, as someone in need of help or even as an alleged official. Fake tradesmen often try to gain access to the home under a pretext (burst water pipe nearby or similar) and distract their victims while a second perpetrator searches the home and steals valuables.
- Take a close look at visitors before opening the door through the peephole or window.
- Only open the door when the deadbolt is in place.
- Only allow tradesmen into your home who you have ordered yourself or who have been announced by the property management.
- If in doubt, call the relevant company or authority. Find out their telephone number yourself.
- Do not let strangers into your home. Ask strangers to return at a later time when a trusted person is present.
- Resist intrusive visitors vigorously, speak to them loudly or call for help.
- Always ask public officials for their ID and check it carefully for printing, photo and stamp.
- Do not sign anything under time pressure and do not allow yourself to be impressed or confused.
- Read the terms of the contract carefully and have them explained to you if necessary.
- Do not sign for alleged gifts or confirmations of visits.
- Make an agreement with neighbors who are at home during the day to assist each other with unknown visitors at the front door.
- Remember: banks, savings banks, police or other authorities will never send "money changers" or "counterfeit money checkers" to your home. Notify the police immediately if such persons appear.
