Kripo expert explains: The tricks of the telephone scammers - and how to protect yourself

Created: 05/03/2022, 19:58

By: Dominik Stallein

Grandchild trick, shock calls, fake police officers: telephone scammers have many tricks.

But you can also protect yourself.

© Jan-Philipp Strobel/dpa (symbol image)

Tricksters find victims again and again - often on the phone and on the Internet.

Kripo officer Simon Brautigam gives tips to protect yourself.

Geretsried – Fraud can actually only happen to others.

You know the nasty tricks.

Or?

Simon Brautigam clears up with this opinion.

The chief inspector is a security advisor on behalf of the police headquarters in Upper Bavaria and informs people about scams that criminals use to look for quick money - and often find it.

On Thursday he visited the VdK in the council chambers.

When asked how many of the approximately 50 guests had already received dubious calls, many hands went up.

Some of them were even successful.

The Ratsstuben hall was almost full when Kripo advisor Simon Brautigam spoke.

© Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss

Grandchild trick, shock phone call, fake police officer: the tricks of telephone scammers and how to protect yourself

The criminals are not only creative in their attempts, but also highly professional.

“There are entire call centers abroad from which computers call any number they can find.

The people speak German with almost no accent” – and worst of all for the potential victim: “They are unscrupulous, ruthless.” So-called shock calls are proof of this: Whoever picks up the phone hears sobbing and a hysterical voice.

The caller says that a terrible accident has happened, for example a traffic accident with fatalities.

Shock call follows perfidious scam: telephone scammers are highly professional

"In the first moment, the victims ask: Anna, is it you." And then the scammers know everything they need to know.

A bogus policeman picks up the phone, demands bail, immediately, in cash, and picks it up from the person called - otherwise "Anna" has to go to jail immediately.

It's one of many scams and one of the boldest.

"The financial damage is one thing," says Brautigam, "the other is the emotional situation in which the victims are left behind."

The tricks of the phone scammers: These are the most common attempts at fraud

Other popular scams: The police have to pick up cash or jewelry from the person called because his name is on a burglar list.

Or a bank employee has noticed strange transfers from the victim's account - and "rescues" the money, which requires test transfers.

Younger people fall for investment scammers and invest horrendous sums in cryptocurrencies that don't even exist.

A guest in the Ratsstuben in Geretsried had experienced a different case: an apparent Microsoft employee needed immediate access to the man's PC because of a security leak.

"It cost me 550 euros," he reported.

Expert explains: How to protect yourself from scammers

The result is the same as with all scams: in the end, the victims are poorer by large amounts of money.

Many do not report the fraud to the police - out of shame.

"Unfortunately, mocking victims is typical of the region," says Brautigam.

Very few people who have been cheated want to suffer malice in addition to the financial damage.

"But a victim is 100 percent a victim" and is never to blame for the damage.

Simon Brautigam, CID security expert © Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss

Tip: dial emergency number 110 - even if nothing bad has happened

The chief inspector advises caution - not only on the phone, but also with beggars, doorstep sales or amorous acquaintances, on the Internet.

"You don't have to be suspicious every second," he says, "but be alert and alert." Then doubts might arise, "and if you have the slightest doubt, just hang up."

For example, test calls to the cell phone of the person the caller is claiming to be could shed more light and prevent harm.

Simon Brautigam recommends dialing 110 in any case.

"Don't try to dupe the criminals," he advised the guests at the VdK event.

"Just protect yourself."

Information on the subject of security can be found on the Internet at www.polizei-beratung.de.