Fake police officers: This is how Emmendingers protect themselves from fraud!

Fake police officers: This is how Emmendingers protect themselves from fraud!

In the last few days, numerous citizens in Emmendingen have received worrying calls from so-called “fake police officers”. Between June 17 and 19, 2025, fraudsters attempted to impersonate police officers from Freiburg in order to obtain personal information and assets from those called. The Freiburg police headquarters strongly warns against this brazen scam and appeals to everyone to be vigilant.

The callers tried to unsettle the injured parties through manipulative approaches and pressure. They sent a picture of urgency and claimed that valuables and money were not safe in the callee's house. The conversations often began with unfounded warnings about an alleged break-in or a mole in the bank, which makes many older people particularly vulnerable to such scams. Verbal threats that failure to help could lead to serious legal consequences are characteristic of these fraudulent practices, the consumer advice center describes.

How the fraudsters operate

The scam used by these fraudsters is not new, but it is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Callers often demand money transfers or even the release of account details, often under the pretext that a police officer is at the door to collect valuables. In many cases, fraudsters put victims under pressure by talking about an ongoing investigation, forcing them to make decisions in a hurry. Fortunately, everyone in Emmendingen recognized the attempted fraud, hung up and informed the real police. A great blessing that should also serve as an example to others.

The police state in their warnings that real police authorities never ask for valuables or money over the telephone. Anyone who receives such a call should not hesitate to simply hang up and, if necessary, contact the police on the official number 110. This course of action was also successfully used by those affected in Emmendingen, which prevented any damage.

Old threats – new signs

The consumer advice center also points out that many fraudsters make calls from suppressed or unknown numbers, which can make it difficult to recognize the rip-off. Another popular tactic is for callers to pretend to be investigators from Europol or Interpol. Often these conversations begin with automated announcements that raise little suspicion long before the actual fraud begins.

Police recommend that older family members be made aware of the dangers of such calls. It is important to keep an open ear for possible fraud attempts and to regularly inform yourself about current tricks.

Given the high manipulation power of these scammers, it is crucial to be suspicious and never give out personal or financial information over the phone. If in doubt, just hang up and inform the real police - this should also be taken into account in the future.

For further information on this topic, readers can read the warnings News.de as well as the Consumer headquarters and the NRW Police should be consulted.