Fraud on the roads: Warning about highway gold scams in the Donnersberg district!

Fraud on the roads: Warning about highway gold scams in the Donnersberg district!

Early on Monday afternoon there was a brazen scam on the L 379 between Gangloff and Waldgrehweiler in which a 29-year-old from the Donnersberg district was deprived of his money. The injured party was stopped by an unknown man who supposedly urgently needed diesel and made him an offer that turned out to be not that good. The fraudster convinced the driver to lend him 20 euros.

After the money was transferred, the man acted as if he could offer his rescuer something valuable. He sold him a wristwatch that later turned out to be of inferior quality and was sold for 60 euros. The victim immediately reported the matter to the police after noticing the fraud. This scam, known as “highway gold,” has proliferated in recent years and often occurs in traffic situations where alleged emergencies are feigned. This warning is issued regularly by the police to raise awareness among other road users, as news.de reports.

The “highway gold” scam

But that's not all, because there are also warnings about the scam in Hesse. Drivers in distress are being harassed by scammers pretending to have no gas or cash. They then often offer gold jewelry in exchange for cash. This form of fraud usually occurs on motorways and near rest stops, as Tagesschau reports.

Public interest and shaming are also an issue where perpetrators are often put under pressure to force quick decisions from drivers. In some cases, scammers even use crying children to elicit pity and further manipulate their victims. Car Motor and Sport points out that this scam often takes place in organized groups that target gullible drivers.

Prevention measures

To protect yourself from such fraudsters, the police advise you to be extremely skeptical when offering jewelry or making monetary transactions on motorways and in pedestrian zones. The real values ​​are often difficult for laypeople to estimate, which is why you should only buy gold and silver from trustworthy dealers. It is advisable to alert the police immediately if you come into contact with suspicious people.

Overall, it becomes clear that protection against fraud is not only an individual responsibility, but also a collective task. Nevertheless, if you listen to your gut feeling, you will probably be able to protect yourself. The wallet woes have reached a new level and it is up to us not to fall prey to the scammers. Anyone who would like to find out more about tricks and scams can find helpful information on the police website.