Caution! Fake bank employee in Mainz exposes attempted fraud

Caution! Fake bank employee in Mainz exposes attempted fraud

In Mainz, a suspected fraudster who posed as a bank employee caused a stir. On December 29, 2025, the man rang the doorbell of an 86-year-old lady in Mainzer Neustadt. He raised concerns by explaining that counterfeit money was in circulation and asked the senior citizen to check her banknotes. She believed him and exchanged several notes before the perpetrator tried to get her bank card in order to exchange it for a new card. Fortunately, he was unsuccessful and the 86-year-old suffered no financial loss. Her daughter immediately informed the police about the incident. This now urgently warns against trusting strangers who pose as bank or government representatives. Identity verification should always be carried out before issuing sensitive information or cards.

The Mainz police appeal to citizens: Anyone who observed suspicious people in Mainzer Neustadt around 11 a.m. on December 27th or who can provide further information about the case should please contact the criminal police on 06131/6533999.

A growing problem

The practice of deliberately defrauding older people is anything but new. In Bavaria, fraudsters have also played a very similar game in recent months and stole several hundred thousand euros. They also posed as bank employees or police officers and primarily targeted senior citizens, often over 80 years old. The perpetrators informed their victims about alleged money transfers or warned them that another person was a fraudster and asked them to withdraw money and hand it over to someone who would collect it. Amounts of up to 25,000 euros were handed over by over a dozen seniors from Würzburg, Augsburg and Munich. The federal police have arrested several suspects who are suspected of causing dizziness and harm to elderly people in almost 20 cases - this is a frightening development.

To stop these scammers, it is important that each of us remains vigilant. Seniors are often the preferred target group as they may have less experience dealing with such fraudulent schemes. According to Federal Consumer Assistance, such incidents have become increasingly part of everyday life.

Caution is advised

BaFin has also initiated measures. In August 2025, it banned Colleon AG, which made unauthorized offers of money, from continuing to operate. These fraudulent offers, often communicated under supposedly official names, aim to gain consumers' trust and mislead them. Such companies are often not legitimate and consumers should not make any payments without thorough verification. If someone receives a payment request that appears suspicious, they should submit it to Federal Consumer Assistance for review.

In conclusion, everyone should be vigilant, especially older people who need to exercise increased caution. Whether as a neighbor, friend or relative, let us help each other prevent such fraudulent attempts and increase safety in our community.