Attention pensioners: Consumer advice centers warn of new scams

Created: 2022-08-09 05:41

By: Patricia Huber

A new scam is currently being used to cheat pensioners out of over a hundred euros.

Consumer centers explain what to do in the event of fraud.

Munich – Again and again, pensioners are targeted by scammers.

The best known is probably the grandchild trick, in which the seniors are supposed to transfer money to the supposed grandchildren.

Now, however, there are increasing reports of a new scam in which affected pensioners are cheated out of over a hundred euros.

“Pflegeservice Smart” sells information over the phone

As various consumer advice centers (North Rhine-Westphalia, Bremen, Baden-Württemberg) report, older people in need of care are increasingly being called by the “Smart care service” from the company “United Swiss Marketing”.

The caller then wants to convince the pensioners to have a “care box with information” sent to them.

This costs 99 or even 129 euros.

Previously, the company advertised that the person called had a claim against the nursing care insurance funds in the amount of 6280 euros and that they could help to enforce this claim.

“We also do not know where the callers got the consumer numbers from.

However, it is conceivable that telephone directories are systematically searched for older-sounding first names or that data from other rip-off companies has simply been taken over," explains Gabriele Bernhardt, a lawyer at the Baden-Württemberg consumer advice center.

New scam: what should those affected do?

Those affected report that the callers try to exert pressure on the phone to accept the offer.

If this is approved, the seniors receive an information package with a twelve-page letter in which the benefits of the long-term care insurance fund are explained.

The information letter is also accompanied by an invoice, an explanation of the cancellation, an order confirmation and the general terms and conditions.

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However, such advice is not necessary, because anyone in need of care receives free advice from municipalities or care insurance companies.

Once those affected have received these documents, they should revoke the contract immediately - even if they think they never signed a contract.

A corresponding sample letter from the Bremen consumer advice center can be found here.

If the revocation does not take place within 14 days, you must expect a reminder.