Call center fraud: 80-year-old hands over gold bars and coins worth 400,000 euros to strangers
Created: 11/23/2022, 1:47 p.m
By: Max Wochinger
The "wrong police officers" had taken the pensioner from Feldkirchen by surprise: the niece had caused an accident.
The 80-year-old gave them seven kilos of gold.
(symbol image) © dpa
The "wrong police officers" had taken the pensioner from Feldkirchen by surprise: the niece had caused an accident.
The 80-year-old later gave them seven kilos of gold.
Feldkirchen – Trick callers cheated an 80-year-old from Feldkirchen for more than 400,000 euros.
The previously unknown perpetrators had led her to believe that her niece was involved in an accident and now had to pay bail.
The elderly then handed over gold bars and valuable coins to an unknown person, the police said.
Accordingly, on Tuesday around 3:10 p.m., an unknown person called the woman from Feldkirch and pretended to be a police officer.
He told the victim a made-up story: her niece would have fatally injured someone in an accident and now has to pay bail of tens of thousands of euros.
The pensioner believed the caller.
Fraud: Seven kilos of gold
The scammers were able to get her to empty her safe deposit box.
The content: seven kilograms in gold bars and gold coins.
She gave the gold to another unknown perpetrator at her front door.
He put the loot in a blue cloth bag with the inscription "Gemeinde Feldkirchen".
According to the police, the value of the gold is more than 400,000 euros.
The collector was seen by an acquaintance of the elderly woman;
he happened to visit the woman shortly after the handover.
The betrayed pensioner told the acquaintance what had happened.
He immediately informed the police.
The police immediately searched for the pick-up, but could not find him.
The specialist crime department 3 (working group "Phenomena") took over the further investigations.
witness call
The investigators are now asking for your help: Who made conspicuous observations in the area of Kreuzstraße, Regina-Ullmann-Straße or Sonnenstraße in Feldkirchen?
The collector is male, 30 to 40 years old, about 1.80 m tall and weighs about 80 kilograms.
According to the police, his appearance was "Western European" and he was wearing a light blue windbreaker.
He put the gold in a blue cloth bag with the inscription "Gemeinde Feldkirchen" and the associated coat of arms.
Anyone with information for the police should contact the police headquarters in Munich, telephone 089/2910-0.
Alternatively, any other police station can be contacted.
Note from the Munich police
The Munich police point out that "false police officers" and other alleged officials (e.g. judges or public prosecutors) often surprise their victims with a made-up story: For example, that a relative caused a serious accident and is now to avoid imprisonment bail is due.
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The police advise making an independent call to the police emergency number 110 to make sure that it could actually be a real call.
Important tips from the police
In all cases, consult your relatives by telephone.
Do not give out any details about your financial circumstances over the phone.
The police or similar officials will never ask you to hand over money or valuables.
Don't let strangers into your home.
Don't let yourself be pressured.
Never give money to strangers and never leave valuables in front of the door to be picked up.