Call center fraudsters stole a four-digit amount of money from a 52-year-old via WhatsApp. The unknown perpetrators had pretended to the woman that her daughter was in an emergency, the police said.
Miltenberg – The 52-year-old woman received a message via WhatsApp from an unknown number on Saturday afternoon, March 12. Previously unknown fraudsters had pretended to be the lady’s daughter with the message and claimed that it was the new cell phone number. Under the pretext of an urgent bill to be paid, the alleged daughter asked her mother for help, the police headquarters in Lower Franconia reported in a press release.
The scammers finally got the 52-year-old to transfer a four-digit amount to an account. However, the woman subsequently became suspicious and contacted her real daughter. After she finally became aware of the fraud, she reported the matter to the police in Miltenberg. (Read here: Telephone fraudsters loot jewelry and money – detective investigating)
Lower Franconia: Call center fraudsters capture a large amount of money via WhatsApp
In the period from last year to the present day, the police in Lower Franconia have become aware of five cases in which perpetrators stole money in this way. However, the phenomenon has not only occurred in Lower Franconia, but also nationwide. As with the previously known fraud offenses via telephone, the fraudsters are mostly located in foreign call centers. The investigations into the capture of such perpetrators are correspondingly difficult.
As in the Miltenberg case, potential fraud victims receive a WhatsApp message from an unknown number. In the message, the perpetrators then write, for example: “Hello grandma, my cell phone is broken and this is my new number.”
As soon as the victim reacts to the message, an emergency situation is feigned in analogy to the well-known “grandchild trick” and it is explained that an amount of money urgently needs to be transferred to a bank account. According to the police, several thousand euros are usually required here.
WhatsApp scam: police warn of scammers
In the further course of the message, the money demand is justified by the fact that one’s own mobile phone is broken and therefore no online transfers can be made. But there was an urgent bill that had to be paid urgently and urgently. The money would of course be paid back as soon as possible.
Police headquarters in Lower Franconia advises caution
The Lower Franconia police warns all citizens of this scam. Anyone who receives such messages from supposed family members or people close to them should under no circumstances transfer money to a bank account – whether at home or abroad. Instead, an attempt should be made to contact this family member by telephone using the previously known number. If it turns out to be an attempt at fraud, the chat history should not be deleted and the police should be notified.
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It should be noted that the scammers are extremely skilful in conducting conversations via text message and build up pressure on their victims in a targeted manner. The scam initially appears credible and leads to the transfer of the requested amount of money, according to the police press release. (sec)
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