Dachau police warn of "wrong colleagues"

The Dachau police currently has a huge problem with: alleged colleagues.

Citizens say they have received calls from fake police officers who wanted their money.

Most of the callers were not fooled.

But there were also two cases in the Dachau district in which the fraudsters stole 100,000 euros each.

Dachau -

If the phone rings at the Dachau police station these days, it may very well be that a citizen wants to inform that false police officers have tried to put him on the cross.

The PI receives up to 50 such calls every day, according to press spokesman Björn Scheid.

“The problem with the wrong police officers is a huge problem,” added a spokesman for the police headquarters in Upper Bavaria-North.

In addition to the grandchildren's trick, manipulation by false police officers is the most common of all “call center scams”, as they are called in police jargon.

Police chief inspector Scheid explains the most commonly used procedure: “When calling, the fake police officers pretend that there was a break-in in the vicinity or that an attack had taken place.

A perpetrator was arrested.

He would have had a list with the name of the person called on it.

To secure the assets, a policeman will come by and take it with him. "

A 72-year-old woman from Dachau was the victim of a similar type of fraud (we reported).

Here the fraudsters managed to make the pensioner believe that she should work with the "police".

A second perpetrator is on the run.

But if she withdraws money, then the "police" in the bank could make arrests.

The "arrest officers" would of course check the authenticity of the money withdrawn.

The 72-year-old was even able to hear a presumably real police radio in the background during the phone call.

A callback she made on the telephone number 110 led back to her "old conversation partner".

So she ultimately assumed that she was helping with a police operation.

The lady withdrew 15,000 euros and handed it over to the fraudsters.

Most of the people called suspect the fraud, but unfortunately not all.

The 72-year-old from Dachau is one of three victims in the district in September.

According to Scheid, the loot here was always in the five-digit range.

Once the wrong police officers even fell into the hands of almost 100,000 euros.

After the September incidents, the scammers were unsuccessful for a few weeks.

Until November 11th.

Then it worked again, and again it was around 100,000 euros;

the victim was a 90-year-old woman from Indersdorf.

“The perpetrators specifically choose senior citizens as victims.

Often they are deprived of all their savings, life's work is destroyed, ”said Thomas Kaiser from the fraud department of the Fürstenfeldbruck criminal investigation department.

In order to make the scams better known and thus to protect potential victims, the police headquarters of Upper Bavaria-North are currently distributing postcards with tips on how to behave and a sticker with the slogan "Put on!"

“Most of the victims have already heard of the fraud, but they do not immediately remember it during the conversation with the perpetrators.

The cards are distributed through senior citizens' organizations and charitable institutions, and they are also available at every police station, ”said Police President Günther Gietl.

The campaign is accompanied by a media campaign in order to attract the attention - including the sons and daughters of potential victims.

Despite all caution and education, citizens should know one thing: "The imagination of fraudsters is limitless," said PI spokesman Björn Scheid.

So new scams are only a matter of time.

Call center fraud: The criminal investigation department gives tips

Basically, be suspicious of such calls.

Occasionally, a technical trick is used to display the number 110 on phone displays.

The police never call the emergency number.

If in doubt, end the call as soon as possible without revealing any personal data or information about valuables or cash.

Do not respond to requests for transfer or transfer of funds.

The real police never ask for cash, wire transfers, or anything of value from you.

Never give money or valuables to strangers.

In case of doubt, call the police on a phone number taken from the phone book, in urgent cases also on the emergency number 110. Do not use the callback button on your phone, otherwise you might end up with the fraudsters.

In principle, do not let strangers into your home.

Healthy suspicion is not a matter of rudeness: Request an official ID card from alleged officials, such as police officers.

Talk to your relatives about this scam and warn them about what the perpetrators are doing.