Attention, seniors! Telephone fraud uncovered in Ludwigshafen!

Attention, seniors! Telephone fraud uncovered in Ludwigshafen!

On Monday morning, August 11, 2025, an 84-year-old Ludwigshafen woman received an unexpected and suspicious call. The stranger claimed that the elderly woman had an outstanding invoice due to an order, but she firmly rejected this. The caller, apparently annoyed by the lady's refusal, abruptly hung up. Fortunately, the senior was spared financial harm, but this incident sheds light on the increasing number of telephone scams that specifically target older people. In this context, the Rhine-Palatinate Police Headquarters gives some important tips to protect yourself from such schemes: The police never call the emergency number 110 and never demand that money or valuables be handed over. If a call seems suspicious, you should simply hang up the phone - it's not rude!

Unfortunately, the incident in Ludwigshafen is not unique. Police report that fraudsters often use technological tricks to impersonate police officers. They claim to have caught a gang of burglars and are then forced to bring the victims' valuables “to safety”. This scam specifically aims to gain the victims' trust and confiscate their assets. The so-called fake policeman trick is just one of many strategies that crooks use to lure older people into a trap.

Common scams

In addition to calls from alleged police officers, grandchild tricks and competition fraud are also common methods that seniors often fall victim to. In the grandchild scam, fraudsters pose as relatives and ask for quick money for alleged emergency situations. They often earn pity and trust. According to information from Pflege-Panorama, thousands of seniors fall for these tricks every year, resulting in an average loss of 4,500 euros per case. In competition fraud, supposed winnings are also promised, but the victims have to pay fees beforehand in order to receive the “prize”.

So how can you protect yourself? It is crucial to make older people aware of the dangers of telephone scams. It is important to be skeptical of unknown calls and not to be fooled by friendly voices. The identity of the caller should be verified by asking specific questions and, if in doubt, it is advisable to consult relatives or even the police. Raising awareness is key to preventing financial losses.

Preventive measures

• Legen Sie bei verdächtigen Anrufen einfach auf, das ist nicht unhöflich.
• Geben Sie keine Wertsachen oder Geld an Unbekannte.
• Rufen Sie die Polizei nicht über die Rückwahltaste an, sondern geben Sie die Nummer manuell ein.
• Informieren Sie bei verdächtigen Anrufen Angehörige oder die Polizei.

In summary: To protect yourself from telephone fraud, a healthy dose of skepticism is essential. Society has a responsibility to educate older people about these dangers and to strengthen their self-confidence. For further information, the prevention experts can be contacted at 0621963-21177. More details are also available on the police website: www.polizei-beratung.de.

Don't rely on empty promises and always keep a cool head. The best way to keep fraudsters at bay is to be careful and careful - so that your valuables really stay with you!