Tram in the design of a patrol car drives through Cologne - the background is serious

Created: 05/12/2022, 18:00

By: Johanna Werning

KVB and Cologne police warn against tricksters with a light rail © Christoph Seelbach/KVB

A KVB light rail system with a special motif is now running through Cologne.

The train is reminiscent of a patrol car - and warns of a dangerous scam.

Cologne – “The police are your friend and helper” is a saying.

But the situation is different with fake police officers.

The same applies to telephone scammers and con artists.

Although the scams are anything but new, the total loot is in the millions, explains Kripo chief Klaus-Stephan Becker.

That is why the prevention work of the police is particularly important - and this is exactly where the KVB in Cologne is helping.

Cologne: KVB-Bahn warns of tricksters - "Beware of fake police officers"

The new KVB railway warns of tricksters © Christoph Seelbach/KVB

For the next two years, a specially designed KVB train will run through Cologne and warn the population of con artists, reports 24RHEIN.

The special light rail was presented on Thursday (May 12) by the senior government director Miriam Brauns, KVB CEO Stefanie Haaks and Kripo chief Klaus-Stephan Becker.

The low-floor tram is reminiscent of the design of a police vehicle.

A fake policeman with his loot is shown as a cartoon character on the first car.

And there are also comic figures on the second car that warn against tricksters.

It says: "Beware of fake police officers!", "Scammers on the phone and at the front door", "Call 110!" and "Beware of scams!".

Cologne: The police train is on the move on these KVB lines

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KVB-Bahn 1

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KVB-Bahn 7

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KVB train 9

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KVB train 12

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KVB train 15

KVB: Stadtbahn in Cologne in the police design - to warn of criminal offenses

For several years now, the Cologne police have been focusing on prevention work in addition to classic investigative work.

"Criminal offenses against older people have been a priority for the police for several years," says Brauns.

"I would like to thank the KVB for allowing us to start another prevention campaign today."

Seniors in particular fall for tricksters and telephone scammers.

Although well over 90 percent of fraudulent calls are unsuccessful, Becker emphasizes that there is still a total of millions of dollars in loot every year.

With the special KVB train you can reach and warn many people.

Because that is precisely what is important: "Above all, we do sustainable prevention work if we manage to sensitize the personal environment of the senior citizens and get them on board."

However, the trickster warning tram is not the first collaboration between the KVB and the Cologne police: “It is the second tram that we are designing for a police campaign.

We are happy to support the police in their prevention work, which also has a very high social benefit,” says Haaks.

On the first train, there was a warning against pickpocketing.

And there are also special trains in Düsseldorf: since this year there has been a special carnival train at the Rheinbahn.