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The hunter of the fake police officers - this is how investigators catch the phone fraudsters

2021-08-25T07:42:23.904Z


33 fake police officers have already ended up behind bars this year. Chief Detective Désirée Schelshorn (44) heads the Munich investigation team.


33 fake police officers have already ended up behind bars this year.

Chief Detective Désirée Schelshorn (44) heads the Munich investigation team.

Munich - The gaze determined, arms crossed: Désirée Schelshorn (44) has no fun with organized call center fraudsters.

At the Munich police, she heads a team that investigates false police officers.

These perpetrators caused 4.6 million euros in damage in Munich alone in 2020.

"But we are on their heels," says the chief detective.

With great success: This year the police * could already arrest 33 suspects who belong to criminal gangs who call Munich seniors from call centers in Turkey to rip them off.

"Compared to last year, we have now more than doubled the number of arrests in this area of ​​organized crime," said Schelshorn.

There were a total of 19 arrests in 2020.

Munich: The phenomenon of false police officers - "highly manipulative and hardened criminals"

The phenomenon of false police officers: No crime currently causes more damage in the city.

The fraudsters call Munich residents up to 600 times a day pretending to be police officers.

They trick the seniors into thinking that burglars are after them and that their valuables need to be secured immediately.

A civil officer comes to pick them up.

In truth, however, it is a hired collector of the gang.

Munich: phone fraudsters rob seniors - fear and self-doubt among crime victims

Seniors lose several thousand euros if they fall for the trick. “Often all of your savings,” says Schelshorn. Much worse, however: "The victims of the crime suffer for months from fears and self-doubts, which can even lead to thoughts of suicide" - because relatives often also make allegations. "The perpetrators are highly manipulative and hardened criminals who frighten the injured party and put them under massive pressure," said Schelshorn.

Ingrid Appel (81) can confirm that.

As a senior adviser, she even gives information courses on the phenomenon of fraud.

But when she herself was called by fraudsters in 2019, “they caught me too,” says Appel.

She dialed the emergency number on her cell phone and escaped damage.

More and more senior citizens are now aware of the scam - the police have also learned something new, says Schelshorn.

Above all about the structures and behavior of the criminal gangs.

Munich: Police “checkmate” gangs of fraudsters - several arrests per week

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The fake police officers made millions in Munich: In Izmir, Turkey, the investigators dug the call center.

© Sigi Jantz

“Our successes in investigations were a long process. We often only got up to the first level and were able to arrest those who were collecting them. But we have now reached the second and third levels: with the logisticians and boars who make the calls. ”Most recently there were several arrests a week. At the end of July, for example, the police caught a high-ranking gang member trying to leave for Turkey. "350 attempts at fraud are on his account - at least. We were able to prevent the completion of the deeds. "

In the act of redemption, the investigators only catch the person collecting the car. “You are out for a quick buck, but you don't feel responsible. A person collecting it once said in court: Well, I didn't have to hit anyone for that. ”But even after major investigations have been successful, the organized gangs cannot be stopped. “If we catch someone picking up someone, we can thwart a criminal gang case. But immediately afterwards they try again with other seniors. ”Even if the investigators arrest members from higher circles, they will be filled. According to Schelshorn, it's like chess: “In the beginning we caught the pawns, now the bishops and rooks too. And one day we want to get the kings - and thus checkmate the fraudsters. (

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Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-08-25

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