As of: March 19, 2024, 5:32 a.m
By: Nina Bautz
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The victims are shocked after the supposedly bad news.
The perpetrators take advantage of this.
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Again and again, pensioners in particular fall for crooks' tricks on the phone and lose a lot of money in the process: This is how the police want to better protect potential victims.
Munich – The doorbell rings – and shortly afterwards the person called freezes in shock.
The so-called shock calls are a particularly perfidious form of trick fraud.
The perpetrators use psychological tricks to deliberately exploit the fact that the victim is taken by surprise, goes into a state of shock and can no longer think clearly.
We spoke to the Munich police about how you can still manage not to fall into the trap.
Shock calls: Perpetrators use psychological tricks to take victims by surprise
“The most common shock call scam for the past year or two has been faking a traffic accident,” says Maximilian Königstedt, an expert in trick fraud at the Munich police.
Here, supposed relatives call - usually with a tearful voice - and report that they caused an accident in which a person was injured or died.
“The phone is then immediately passed on and a supposed police officer, public prosecutor or other official says that the relative will be imprisoned if you don't hand over bail or deposit it somewhere - mainly in an amount between 10,000 and 70,000 euros.
The victim is put under massive pressure.”
Maximilian Königstedt advises citizens to follow a few tips as a precaution: “Scammers often look for phone numbers from telephone books – including on the Internet.
They specifically look for older-sounding names that could indicate seniors.
That's why you should think about having your phone number deleted from the phone book." It also makes sense to work out a secret code word with family members and close friends.
“If a con artist calls and pretends to be a relative, you should ask for the code word.
If the caller cannot answer that, then you should hang up.” If an unknown number appears on the display, says Königstedt, healthy suspicion is allowed and it is better not to answer the phone with your name so that the perpetrators get as little data as possible.
Pensioners in particular are at risk: Police checklist is intended to protect against telephone fraud
A checklist that you hang next to your phone and that immediately catches the eye can also be a great help.
If one or more of the items on the list apply, it could be a shock call.
Maximilian Königstedt: “On the one hand, it makes sense to go through this list again and again in order to be prepared for any shock calls.
“The list can also help you get out of shock when you actually call.”
The checklist: Be careful, scams!
1.
Did the caller pretend to be a family member, public prosecutor, police officer, judge or similar official?
2.
Does the caller put you under time pressure?
3
.
Should you hand over cash or other valuables to someone you don't know or leave them in a public place?
4.
Should you make a transfer or buy a cash card?
If you can answer “yes” to one or more questions, then hang up and call the police on 110!
The police officer emphasizes: “The real police never ask for money!
Be suspicious, don't let yourself be put under pressure!
If you suspect, hang up and dial 110!”
(nba)