Protect yourself! Lecture on combating cybercrime in Celle

Protect yourself! Lecture on combating cybercrime in Celle

Internet crime has long since reached our regions and has become a serious problem. In Germany the numbers are increasing every year, and both industry and numerous private households are affected. In Celle alone there are around 35 advertisements per day, which illustrates the alarming situation. The financial damage and psychological stress for those affected are often enormous. Cosima Bauer, the crime prevention officer at the Celle police station, will provide information about this topic at the KULTURTREFF-SPEZIAL in the Alte Töpferei on June 19th and address dangers such as the grandchild trick and shock calls. Admission to the event is free and donations will be made to the “Kulturtreff auf dem Land e.V.” association. requested. Registrations are possible via email info@altetöpferei-jeversen.de or by phone at 05146-1431.

So what should we pay attention to? Bauer places a clear focus on protection on the internet, on the phone, at the front door and on the go. Older people in particular are often the target of fraudsters who pose as relatives or public officials in order to con them out of their money. In recent years, the so-called grandchild tricks and shock calls have become a gravestone for the bad tricks. According to stern.de, hundreds of thousands of euros are regularly transferred from older people to fraudster gangs, and the total damage is in the multi-digit million range. In 2022 alone, 6,656 cases of grandchild fraud were registered in Germany.

Common scams

How exactly does such a scam work? Perpetrators often pose as being in distress and demand monetary payments while acting in an international organization. Chief Detective Sebastian Höhlich explains that the criminal structures often come from Eastern Europe and the perpetrators are active in up to 25 countries. A particularly tragic case illustrates the danger: Fraudsters stole 220,000 euros from a senior citizen and 230,000 euros from an 88-year-old. The number of unreported cases is often unknown, and the police are called upon to promote international cooperation, as was recently the case at a conference organized by the Berlin LKA, in which prosecutors and criminal investigators from 16 federal states and various European countries took part.

Crime prevention tips

The police have created special materials to protect older people. A brochure in A5 format with 72 pages provides tips and information about dangers such as fake police officers or feigning emergencies at the front door. Procedures such as false promises of prizes on the telephone are also discussed. There are also recommendations on internet safety and warnings about dangers on social networks and on the go, for example handbag snatching or pickpocketing. A positive neighborhood culture and paying attention to friendly neighbors can also be helpful in supporting each other.

The initiative to protect older people is definitely a high priority. The victim support organization WEISSER RING and the police advice centers, which provide the materials free of charge, provide information about emergency assistance. There are also other resources and addresses for helpless citizens at polizei-beratung.de.

It's up to all of us to keep our eyes open and share information. This is the only way we can live safely together in everyday life and arm ourselves against the dangers of the Internet and the real world.