The first tricksters who want to take advantage of the corona crisis are already crawling out of their dark holes. Two specific cases in Garching show that fraudsters are trying to "infiltrate" the Garching shopping service. The perpetrators pretend to be "helpers" and are primarily targeting older people.
Garching / Landkreis - If you want to use the Garching shopping service due to the corona crisis , you have to call the city's telephone hotline (089/32 08 94 60 and -470). The orders are recorded there and a code word is also assigned, with which the customer and the delivery service identify. "If there is no code word, then close the door immediately, put no money in front of the door and never let anyone into the apartment," advises Monika Marquardt insistently. She has been on the phone hotline for a week, taking shopping lists from older people and people in need.
Fraudsters take advantage of corona crisis: alarming calls
On Monday, however, she received two alarming calls. “Someone called who asked if something was needed. A helper comes over to take up the shopping list at home, ”says Marquardt, at whom the alarm bells rang immediately. "Because we don't call anyone. Nobody comes home from us into the living room. We only deliver to the door what has been brought to us by phone. ”Monika Marquard simply cannot believe that people continue to take advantage of emergency situations. "I am stunned!" Especially the very elderly hear or see poorly under certain circumstances, are often in good faith and then fall for the fraudsters who appear friendly and nice and make a serious impression.
"They have to be put out of business"
In Garching, the contactless shopping service is secured by a bag placed in front of the door by naming a code word that only customers and suppliers know. Monika Marquardt is currently thinking about how the delivery system can be better protected against fraudsters, "they mustn't have a chance, they have to be put out of business."
A week ago, the orders trickled in slowly, "in the second week, the number of inquiries is increasing, since the flyers have now been distributed in the shops and also thrown into the mailboxes," says Marquardt. Before Easter, when the shops are closed for a few days, a further upswing awaits them. "That's a good thing! It is important that the risk groups are now given special protection and stay at home. "
Handover with code word
The VfR Garching football players, the Garching and Hochbrück boys' and deandl clubs are in the starting blocks of the Garching shopping and delivery service. You buy the “orders” that Marquardt accepts until 12.30 p.m. and then deliver them to the door, where payment also takes place. "We ring the bell, exchange the code word and put the shopping in the container parked in front of the front door," says Florian Cygan, who took care of coordinating the helpers.
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