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Carpet fraud: 35-year-old arrested in Bonn!
A 35-year-old was arrested in Bonn for deliberately deceiving a senior citizen in a carpet scam. Investigations are ongoing.
Carpet fraud: 35-year-old arrested in Bonn!
In Bonn-Dottendorf, on November 4, 2025, the police civil investigation arrested a 35-year-old man who is suspected of cheating on a 75-year-old woman. This case, known as the “compassion scam,” shows the brazen methods fraudsters use to try to take advantage of unsuspecting seniors. Loud Cologne City Gazette The perpetrator contacted the elderly woman by phone and claimed that her late husband had been a loyal customer of her business. He and his accomplices then offered the woman a carpet as a “farewell gift,” which soon turned out to be of inferior quality.
The fraudsters managed to convince the senior citizen to visit them at her apartment. On the day in question, two men gave the woman the carpet and complained about alleged money worries. They described the carpets as stuck at customs and asked for financial assistance. In her good faith, the senior woman handed the men cash and valuables worth a total of several thousand euros.
Investigations after the police were alerted
When the fraudsters called several times by phone, the woman became suspicious and finally alerted the police. She was there quickly and waited in the apartment for the men to return. The 35-year-old was temporarily arrested, but was later released because there were no reasons for his arrest. The investigation into the other accomplices is now being carried out by Criminal Investigation Department 24 of the Bonn police.
A similar case also occurred in Schongau. On November 3, 2025, an 80-year-old woman fell victim to an identical scam. An unknown man, who also posed as a carpet seller, entered her home and sold her an inferior carpet for 3,500 euros. He also showed the woman her jewelry and asked for valuable items. The damage caused amounts to a mid-four-digit amount. As the Mercury Reportedly, the search that was immediately initiated was unsuccessful.
This makes it clear how important it is to provide senior-friendly education in society. Fraudsters specifically exploit the trust of older people and mislead them with emotional stories. It remains to be hoped that such cases can be reduced in the future through increased education and prevention.