Scam or real emergency? An incident at the Aral gas station near Kressbronn recently caused at least some unease. A man in a car with a Polish license plate stopped in the layby and tried to get help from passing motorists. I happened to be there and observed the scene.
As I passed the pullout next to the gas station, the man waved to me, signaling that he appeared to need help. When I stopped to talk, he opened my unlocked car door and shouted excitedly: “Brother, I need help!” He claimed that he urgently needed five or ten euros for gas and had no other way to get money come. He offered to show his documents. When I refused him the money, he became angry, swore and then quickly walked away.
The police advise caution
As the police confirmed upon request, this was probably a scam that is already known nationwide. The perpetrators park their vehicle on the side of the road and try to stop people driving by. During the conversation, they pretend to be in an acute emergency and urgently need money for fuel. However, the aim is usually to get money through the imposed urgency. “Sometimes they also offer their victims something in return, such as valuable-looking, worthless jewelry,” said the police.
In these cases, the police advise not to give in to the suspects’ demands. An important identifying feature of attempted fraud is when the person concerned only asks for money and rejects other, genuine offers of help such as calling a breakdown service or accompanying you to the nearest gas station.
Because in principle it could be a person in distress and the idea of help should not be completely pushed into the background, the police advise that, if in doubt, you should contact the police instead of stopping and providing “help” yourself. The officers will then take any further necessary measures.
Proof is difficult
It is important to provide as precise information as possible, such as the license plate number of the vehicle and a personal description, in order to enable the police to quickly assess the situation.
The police in the Ravensburg police headquarters area occasionally receive tips about suspects, but proving a specific act of fraud is often difficult. “Because people usually have no interest in the police, they also change their location at short notice and are often no longer available.”
