Scammers use shock calls to rip off their unsuspecting victims. Artificial intelligence is now being used as the latest scam.
Wiesbaden – Shock calls are a popular scam used by fraudsters, who often pretend to be relatives. The perpetrators pretend to be in financial distress and do not let up in order to get large sums of money – mostly cash. The dangerous thing is that after the handover, the fraudsters disappear and can no longer be found. Victims usually have to say goodbye to the amounts of money forever.
Shock calls: How not to fall for the nasty scam – fraudsters work with artificial intelligence
With a new scam, the fraudsters are now also relying on artificial intelligence and making the voices of the person in distress sound deceptively real. RTL recently reported on an alleged kidnapping in which the kidnapping victim came forward personally. The voice sounded deceptively real, but the alleged caller was present at the time with the callee.
Now the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) warns on its portal of an increase in cases of the scam. It is best not to get involved in the conversation in the first place, the experts advise. If you just hang up, you won't let yourself be put under pressure in the first place. It is also important that information about personal and financial circumstances is never disclosed by telephone.
Shock calls: Federal Criminal Police Office advises not to get involved in the conversation
In addition, fraudsters often pretend to be relatives who have caused a crime or a traffic accident and have to go to jail. Those affected are then put under massive pressure to pay a supposed "bail". Often there are several scammers who provide a whole spectacle to look realistic.
The Federal Criminal Police Office advises:
- Do not follow the callers' prompts. Don't get caught up in a conversation or put pressure on you. Just hang up.
- Don't give out any personal or financial details over the phone.
- Call your actual relatives at the number you know.
- Remember: The police or similar officials will never ask you by phone to hand over cash or valuables.
- Never hand over money or valuables to people you don't know.
- As a matter of principle, do not let strangers into your apartment or house.
- If you have received such a call, please contact your local police station immediately to report the incident.
If the call fraudsters pretend to be a trusted person, those affected should call them at the known number. This makes it easy to clarify whether it is a scam.
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Scammers usually pretend to be relatives or police officers on the phone. (Symbolic image) © IMAGO/Fotostand / K. Schmitt
In principle, no strangers should be allowed into your own home, recommends the BKA. Cash and other possessions are not demanded at the front door, even by police officers and similar officials. Not over the phone either: Fraudsters also like to fake calls from officials to get large sums of money and valuables. However, real officials never ask for the handover over by phone.
Important: In the event of a fraudulent call, those affected should report to the local police station – and report the incident.
Phone scams: Seniors more often fall victim to scams
Shock calls are one of many scams. And again and again they are successful. Seniors in particular fall for the tricks. In a shock call to a Kassel senior citizen, the perpetrators captured high-quality jewelry. She thought she was saving her nephew from prison after causing a fatal accident. (hk)
