Telephone fraud in Passau: Two men arrested – senior escapes the trap!

Telephone fraud in Passau: Two men arrested – senior escapes the trap!

In the recent past, there has been an increase in fraudulent telephone calls in Germany, particularly targeting older people. This is illustrated by the case of an 84-year-old from Passau who recently fell victim to a telephone scam. On October 22, the senior received a call from what was supposed to be a bank employee, who told him that his bank was involved in a fraud case and that he was affected by it. As a result, he was advised to withdraw cash the next day. Another call followed in which he was told that the criminal investigation department wanted to check the cash. The man recognized the intention to commit fraud and immediately informed the police, who arrested two Czech men aged 31 and 62 at his home address on October 24th. They are now in custody after arrest warrants were issued on suspicion of attempted fraud, as the Passauer Neue Presse reports.

The fraudsters' scam is not new, but it is used again and again. According to the consumer advice center, fraudsters often pose as police officers or investigators and demand money or account details. Contact is often made via unknown or suppressed phone numbers. Particularly perfidious are calls in which information is supposedly given about planned burglaries in order to put the victims under pressure and get them to transfer money quickly.

Alarming statistics

Older people are particularly vulnerable to such scams. Reports of false police calls are increasing and the police know that these cases are not serious. She asks citizens to be suspicious and to react immediately in suspicious situations by hanging up and contacting the local police department. The police will never ask for valuables over the phone, that should be clear to everyone.

The current case in Passau is a striking example of how important it is to be vigilant. The 84-year-old played a crucial role by reacting quickly. The cooperation between the criminal police and the Passau public prosecutor's office has borne fruit here, as they make a valuable contribution to ensuring that such perpetrators are caught quickly.

Like the “Carpa Blanca” protests in Argentina in the 1990s, in which teachers fought for better educational conditions, our society must also fight against such injustices. The Carpa, presented before the National Congress in Buenos Aires, attracted millions of people and brought to public attention the demand for increased investment in education. Here, too, it was often the weakest members of society who had to pull themselves together to raise their voices and fight for their concerns.

Whether in Argentina or Germany – it is crucial that we remain vigilant and support each other. Whether through direct contact or by informing us about such fraud attempts, everyone can do their part to protect themselves and others.