Breakthrough in the search for the “Whatsapp scammers”? The police now know what the suspects look like – from their accomplices.
They made it easy for scores of unsuspecting people to send them thousands of euros via Whatsapp – and made off with the fraudulently obtained money. The police in Cologne have been looking for the perpetrators for some time. Now there is a photo of two of the three so-called “Whatsapp scammers” for the first time.
The officials got the picture through two accomplices, who, however, deny having known about the fraud. They are said to have laundered the money in order to conceal the identities of the real perpetrators.
Photo taken when the money was handed over
“The wanted persons are said to have contacted the later ‘accomplices’ via a social media platform and then convinced them of a supposedly lucrative barter deal,” writes the Cologne police.
After approval, the two young men received “payments from several third-party accounts”, then withdrew them and handed them over to the fraudsters they were looking for in cash. The photo showing two of the three suspects was taken at one of these meetings.
“Accomplices” report themselves
The supposedly ignorant accomplices kept part of the money as a commission. The young men reported the fraud themselves, but according to the police, they are also being investigated on suspicion of money laundering.
Witnesses who can provide information about the men they are looking for and other attempts are asked to contact the investigators at Criminal Police Office 33 by phone on 0221 229-0 or by email to poststelle.koeln@polizei.nrw.de.
