Calls for help via WhatsApp – the police warn of a modern variant of the grandchild trick – e110

Saarbrücken (dpa) – The police in Saarland have recently received an increasing number of reports of grandchild scams using the WhatsApp messenger service. The victims received a message via WhatsApp from an unknown number in which the criminals pretended to be their son or grandson. Because of an alleged financial emergency, they ask for money. With this “still relatively new scam”, the victims are also put under pressure by repeated messages.

At the beginning of the week, fraudsters in Saarland were successful: they stole 1,000 euros from a 60-year-old woman from Blieskastel. There have been reports of such cases in Saarland since May 2021. According to the police, the number has been increasing lately.

The police advise:

• Always be suspicious if someone texts from an unknown number claiming to be a relative!
• Check by calling whether the sender is actually the person specified!
• In addition, you should not publish your cell phone number on the Internet and not make your profile picture visible to everyone via the settings.

16.03.22 yes

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