Red alert: Fraudsters are making shock calls in Starnberg!

Red alert: Fraudsters are making shock calls in Starnberg!

On Sunday, July 13th, there was a worrying increase in shock calls in and around Starnberg, as reported by the Starnberg police station. In these calls, the victims are made to believe that a home has been burglarized. Scammers often pose as police officers from the local inspectorate or criminal investigation department in order to inspire trust and put their victims under pressure. Those called are told that their name and address are on a list of arrested perpetrators, which causes unnecessary panic for many.

Fortunately, the police have not yet recorded a successful shock call on Sunday. This shows that many seniors, who are often targeted by scammers, have remained vigilant. The police have published some helpful tips to help protect yourself against these perfidious schemes. They advise not to allow yourself to be put under pressure and, if in doubt, to simply hang up. It is also important to talk to people close to you about unusual phone calls and to avoid answering unknown or suppressed numbers.

Tips to avoid shock calls

A basic rule to remember is that you should never hand money to strangers or leave valuables outside your door to be picked up. The police will never telephone to ask for cash or valuables. Always make sure you call 110 if you feel unsafe. These numerous tips are particularly important, especially in times when trust in telephone calls is increasingly being abused.

In addition, last Friday there were at least four documented shock call attempts against senior citizens whose ages were between 79 and 84 years old in Berg and Starnberg. One fraudster was particularly bold, claiming that the daughter of one of the seniors had caused a fatal accident and that bail costs had been in the five-figure range. Fortunately, the seniors recognized the fraud attempts and informed the police, which prevented anything worse from happening.

The police have also reported variants in which the perpetrators appear as fake bailiffs. In these cases, significant amounts were demanded from two Starnberg seniors, but fortunately this was averted. Shock calls can come in different forms, often under the pretext of a traffic accident that requires immediate payments. Here it is crucial to keep a cool head and not make impulsive decisions.

International and national authorities, such as the Federal Agency for Civic Education, are also drawing attention to this type of fraud. Shock calls often use a combination of scams to gain the trust of victims. The perpetrators are usually well prepared and rely on the insecurity of older people, whom they target as a target group.

This makes it all the more important to find out how to handle such calls correctly. The recommended protective measures include not discussing personal or financial information on the phone, contacting the police if in doubt and always consulting a trusted person.

Stay vigilant and regularly inform yourself about current scams to avoid becoming a target for such unscrupulous schemes. The information mentioned should not only be important for seniors, but should really concern each of us. Protect yourself and your data!

For detailed information and tips on how to behave on shock calls, you can read the reports from Mercury, South Germans and Police advice consult.