Call center scammers are very active right now.
In 22 reports in just one afternoon, Dorfener reported calls from alleged police officers who were targeting valuables.
Kripo Erding is currently processing 57 cases from just one week.
Dorfen / Erding
- "Here is the police" - similarly perfidious scammers report on the phone to steal valuables from unsuspecting people.
At least 22 such calls from fake police officers happened last Wednesday between 12 noon and 3 p.m. in the area of responsibility of the Dorfen police station.
The police confirmed this on request.
Fortunately, none of the people called fell for it.
The number of cases could be much greater.
The number of unreported cases is not known.
"He said that there was a break-in in our neighborhood," says a resident of the town hall square in Dorfen (name known to the editors).
The stranger hung up immediately when he heard that three people were in the house.
Several neighbors were also contacted, reports the Dorfener.
“One of them is 84 years old and single.
She was worried that she couldn't sleep. "
The trick: Because of alleged break-ins in the neighborhood, citizens should bring their valuables to safety.
A "police officer" can pick up jewelry or money immediately.
"We immediately had several plainclothes patrols - if someone was already ready to collect them," reports Harald Kratzel, head of the Dorfen police station.
But the officials didn't notice anything.
The same morning the police in Mühldorf received eleven such calls.
“They use names that are typical for older people,” says Uwe Schindler, deputy head of the department there.
For the Dorfen case on Wednesday, the Kratzel does not confirm.
Rather, entire streets were telephoned.
"In my opinion, they call certain area codes with a generator," says the first police chief inspector.
In the Dorfen case, the callers also seem to have had local knowledge.
The person concerned reports that the wrong police officer told the 84-year-old something about arrested burglars in the nearby city park.
This increases the pressure.
The cases are increasing.
According to the police headquarters in Upper Bavaria North alone, the Erding Police Department processed 57 calls from false police officers from the past week.
Those affected recognized the calls consistently as attempted fraud and hung up.
The police have issued an urgent warning against call center fraudsters posing as police officers or trying the so-called grandchildren's trick.
TIMO AICHELE