Wednesday 4:31 p.m. A text message lights up on Susanne W.’s cell phone. “Hello mom, my phone is broken. This is my new number, please save. Message me on WhatsApp.”
Alarmed, Susanne W. saves the number and answers via WhatsApp: “Nina, is that you?” The answer in a matter of seconds: “Yes, Mom.”
Susanne W. asks: “Call me.” She cannot speak now, writes her supposed daughter. But I need money urgently. Unfortunately – because of the broken mobile phone – she has no access to her online banking at the moment, but she will transfer it back immediately tomorrow.
The mother is worried. Nina travels regularly for work, including abroad. What if something happened to her there, she’s in a tight spot? “Send me everything,” she replies. “I transfer.”
In truth, Susanne W. has a different name. She wants to remain anonymous – to protect her daughter. She is by no means an isolated case, on the contrary. The police warns nationwide of the so-called “Messenger fraud” or “WhatsApp fraud”.
A billion dollar business for the scammers
According to SZ information, there were more than 11,000 reports of “messenger fraud” in Bavaria in 2022, with total damage amounting to 8.4 million euros. In Lower Saxony, the LKA recorded more than 9,000 cases and five million euros in damage. And in NRW, 15,000 ads were received. The Viersen police wrote on January 20, 2023: “The perpetrators received well over 20,000 euros this week.”
The number of unreported cases is likely to be much higher. Many would not report out of shame, others because they see no point in an ad, explains a police spokeswoman in an interview with FOCUS online.
The scam is often the same: the supposed daughter or the supposed son turns to his parents that the old cell phone is gone. After a few messages, a four-digit amount was suddenly asked for. The lack of access to online banking is often given as the reason.
As with Susanne W. The tricksters demand a total of 1,800 euros. “Can you pay for it in real time?” they ask repeatedly. This is also a scam, because direct or instant transfers cannot be stopped by the banks.
A game with emotions
Playing with emotions – a lot of “mum”, “dad”, “help” – is also typical, according to the police.
Police suspect organized gangs behind it
Authorities suspect organized gangs to be behind the scam. They would get hold of the telephone numbers via stolen or purchased data. Sometimes, however, it is simply a matter of negligent handling of one’s own telephone number on the Internet, says an LKA spokeswoman when asked.
The trail would have initially led to the Netherlands, but now many account holders have German addresses. “But these are only the middlemen who make their accounts available,” she says. Some would be attracted by dubious job offers and scent the easy money. “Of course, that is also punishable and if we follow the trail, they are the first to be targeted.” The actual masterminds and backers, on the other hand, mostly remained undetected.
For Susanne W. things went off lightly once again. Just when she had transferred the 1800 euros, she had a queasy feeling. She called her younger daughter who was at home that day. He noticed the dizziness immediately. She dialed 110 and informed the savings bank, which was able to stop the transfer. The account to which Susanne W. had transferred came from Lithuania.
“It simply outweighs the fact that you want to help your child”
“Of course you get angry afterwards,” she says. “I could have been suspicious, because my daughter has never asked me for money.” But after a long day at work, she was tired and – “at first glance, the fact that you want to help your child is more important.”
She had also filed a complaint. After 14 days, the letter from the public prosecutor’s office came back: “The proceedings have been discontinued because the perpetrator could not be identified.”
Nevertheless, Susanne W. wants to go public with her case, also to warn others. “I’ve heard from five other cases since then,” she says. Luckily no one would have transferred any money. “Once the daughter sat next to the woman and once she lay in bed and slept – lucky!” She still appeals: “Be careful and, if in doubt, call the police. It really can happen to anyone!”
Surf tip: WhatsApp and SMS – “Hello mom/dad, my cell phone is broken”: How to react to the scam
