Police warn: Fake bank employees are scamming older people!

Police warn: Fake bank employees are scamming older people!

A worrying scam emerged in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler at Christmas time. The local police are warning about perpetrators who pretend to be bank employees on the phone. Older people in particular are often targeted. There were already numerous calls in the region on Christmas Eve alone. The callers claim to have noticed suspicious transactions on the accounts of those they are calling and offer to stop them by coming in person to collect the bank card.

The police strongly advise against passing on bank cards or other sensitive data. Anyone who has already fallen into such a trap should contact the authorities immediately to prevent anything worse from happening. star reports that perpetrators are becoming more and more sophisticated and are constantly developing new, combined scams.

New stitches, old tricks

Crime on the telephone is constantly taking on new forms. In light of this latest wave of fraud, other well-known scams are also mentioned. In a recent incident in Lower Saxony, a supposed bank employee posed as a rescuer by claiming that she had stopped unauthorized debits. The lady was asked to delete her cards and PIN over the phone. Police prevention emphasizes the fact that extreme caution should be exercised when making such calls.

The fake police officer scam is particularly perfidious and is also attracting increasing attention. The victims are made to believe that a criminal gang is nearby and they are pressured to transfer money to so-called secure accounts. It turns out again and again that it is not a reputable authority that makes such demands. The police or banks would never ask for money or sensitive data.

Protection for seniors

The target group of these fraudsters are often older people who exploit emotional appeal and trust in supposed authorities. Therefore, raising awareness and educating seniors is crucial. Nursing assistance for seniors recommends informing your loved ones about the various scams and taking precautionary measures. Your own children should also discuss the topic of fraud with older family members and point out that they should always be skeptical about suspicious calls.

The proven protective measures include:

• Skepsis bei unbekannten Anrufen.
• Identität des Anrufers durch gezielte Fragen überprüfen.
• Keine Entscheidungen unter Druck tätigen.
• Verdächtige Anrufe der Polizei melden.
• Wertsachen sicher aufbewahren.

It is also advisable not to pass on any personal data and, if you are unsure, to consult a relative or bank employee. Especially in today's digitalized world, it is even more important that we as a society show responsibility and protect older people from such fraud attempts!