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Photo: Daniel Bockwoldt / picture alliance / dpa
A taxi driver saved a pensioner from Hagenow in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania from a scam – and the loss of more than 30,000 euros.
As a police spokesman said on Friday, a caller put the 75-year-old under so much pressure with the so-called shock call scam that the woman wanted to get the money from the bank on Thursday.
On the way to the bank in Ludwigslust, the woman reportedly spoke to the taxi driver, who saw through the scam – he didn't drive her to the bank, but to the police.
The case was cleared up there.
Caller asked for bail after alleged accident
The fraudster, as an alleged police officer, had explained on the phone that the elderly woman's daughter had hit a pregnant woman who had lost her unborn child as a result.
In order for the daughter to be released, the pensioner had to pay a bail of 30,000 euros.
In view of the incident, the police again warned against such shock calls.
On Thursday alone, eight attempts at fraud were reported in the Ludwigslust-Parchim district, but no cash was handed over.
The police appealed never to give cash to strangers.
wit/dpa