As of: February 26, 2024, 11:02 a.m
By: Peter Schiebel
Comments
Press
Split
Be careful, trap: A previously unknown perpetrator in Starnberg stole more than 10,000 euros at an ATM in Starnberg using the stolen EC card and the spied-out PIN number (symbolic photo).
© Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa
An 83-year-old man from Starnberg was ripped off in an extremely brazen manner on Saturday afternoon.
A fraudster spoke to him in a bank branch in the city center and stole cash in the low five-figure euro range.
Starnberg – This fraudster is hard to beat when it comes to freezing cold.
Even though a witness saw through him and spoke to him, he didn't let go of his 83-year-old victim and carried out his scam mercilessly.
The unknown person had probably been watching and spying on the senior citizen for some time on Saturday afternoon.
At around 1 p.m., the 83-year-old withdrew money from an ATM in a branch on Wittelsbacherstrasse in Starnberg, the police reported.
The perpetrator was also in the anteroom.
Somehow he must have managed to see the man's PIN number while typing on the keyboard.
The police call this scam “shoulder surfing,” in which the perpetrators look over the shoulders of older people in particular to get the number combination.
The perpetrator then waited until the 83-year-old had taken the desired amount from the machine.
Then he walked up to him, waved a ten-euro note and claimed that the senior had forgotten it in the dispenser compartment.
As a result, he managed to engage the 83-year-old in a conversation and in the process took the man's debit card.
Particularly bold: As a police spokesman said at the request of the Starnberger Merkur, a woman was watching the scene.
She said she was confronted with the same scam a few years ago.
That's why she spoke to both the perpetrator and his victim.
Nevertheless, the stranger was able to carry out his plan and hide the debit card.
The 83-year-old probably thought the ATM had withdrawn the card.
Just a few minutes after the excitement had subsided and both the victim and the witness had left the bank lobby, the perpetrator inserted the debit card into the slot of the machine, entered the PIN and withdrew a lower five-digit euro amount.
He didn't even change branches, as is usual in these cases.
He probably feared that the police would come soon.
But that wasn't the case, as both the injured party and the witness only reported to the Starnberg inspection a little later.
At least there is a personal description of the perpetrator.
The man is said to have been 30 to 40 years old, 1.70 to 1.80 meters tall and of slim build.
He had short brown hair and was wearing, among other things, a black knitted hat and a black short coat.
He spoke broken German.
Anyone who can provide information about the perpetrator is asked to contact the Starnberg police on (0 81 51) 36 40.
Possible other victims should also come forward.
The police recommend these tips to protect yourself from “shoulder surfing”:
Make sure that no one else is watching you when you enter your PIN.
Politely but firmly ask intrusive people or alleged helpers to keep their distance in order to ensure a sufficient safety distance.
When entering the PIN, completely cover the keypad, for example with your other hand or an object (wallet, etc.).
Do not use an ATM where something seems unusual to you (for example a broken privacy screen on the input field).
If you suspect manipulation, notify the police or the bank.
Check your account statements regularly.
If you notice anything unusual, contact your bank immediately.
If you suspect that someone has read your card details, have the card blocked immediately via your bank or the nationwide blocking emergency number on 116 116.
Report it to the police.
Further information can be found on the Internet at www.polizei-beratung.de/aktuelles/detailansicht/betrueger-am-bankautomat-shoulder-surfer/