Mysterious break-in in Hagen: Who is the EC card thief?

Mysterious break-in in Hagen: Who is the EC card thief?

The police in Hagen are looking for an unknown man who broke into an apartment and then plundered the victim's account. This incident occurred on April 4, 2025, when a 32-year-old man entered his home in Hagen-Haspe and made the shocking discovery that cash and his debit card were missing. The search for the perpetrator could now make significant progress because the criminal police have published surveillance images of the suspect. According to Express, the stolen EC card was used at an ATM on the same day, which enabled the perpetrators to quickly enrich themselves.

As the investigators emphasize, this is an alarming case for both those affected and society. The hope is now all the greater that someone will recognize the man in the pictures and can provide information about his identity or whereabouts. The police are therefore asking the public for help and have set up a hotline on 02331-986 2066. The mugshots can also be viewed on the NRW Police portal.

Fraud or systematic?

Let's think about the increasing number of fraud scams that are on everyone's lips these days in connection with credit cards and debit cards. A study by Visa shows that 91 percent of those surveyed in Germany have already been the target of attempted fraud. What's particularly alarming is that 83 percent of participants observed an increase in these attempts in the last twelve months. This development is a cause for concern as artificial intelligence can potentially help make fraud attempts even more credible. Fraudsters use various scams, such as phishing, where credit card details are obtained via fake emails or websites, or skimming, where card details are read at ATMs. ADAC warns that unsafe websites and public WLANs in particular pose a high risk.

In the event of a card loss or fraud, you need to act quickly. Blocking the card immediately, for example by calling the blocking emergency number 116 116, is strongly recommended. This central number for blocking cards has been around since 2005. It is an invaluable help as it applies not only to debit and credit cards, but also to numerous other cards, such as employee ID cards or cell phone cards. The cost of the call is free, although charges may apply from abroad. Anyone who urgently misses their card should also notify their account-holding institution immediately to avoid financial damage. This is also the advice on polizei-beratung.de.

Protection measures for cardholders

To protect yourself from such nasty cases, there are some simple but effective tips. The card should never be left unattended and both PIN and card should be kept separate. A strong password and activation of two-factor authentication also contribute to security. Experts also recommend avoiding public Wi-Fi and setting card limits to minimize damage in the event of misuse.

It remains to be hoped that the search will be successful and the wanted man will be caught soon. This is not only important for those affected, but also for safety in society. If you know something or want to contact the police, don't be afraid to use the hotline provided.