Fake police officers tricked a Wilsdruffer (83) out of 5,000 euros over the phone. The Dresden public prosecutor’s office and detectives from the Dresden police tracked down the perpetrators and were able to catch two people collecting money (20, 21) in the act. At the end of last week, the 83-year-old received his money back from Police Chief Lutz Rodig (61).
What had happened?
On the evening of September 25th, the fraudsters contacted the senior citizen for the first time and posed as police officers. They claimed that a woman had been robbed where the man lived – a district of Wilsdruff – and advised the man to keep his valuables safe. They also asked him about his assets in several phone calls the following day and offered to keep them safe for him.
What the fraudsters didn’t know: Dresden criminal investigators were already on their trail. The well-organized gang, acting as fake police officers, had previously tricked several seniors from Dresden into handing over money to people collecting money (WochenKurier reported). The perpetrators had already stolen a total of 160,000 euros. The criminal police investigated and became aware of the impending fraud against the 83-year-old.
The perpetrators tricked Wilsdruffer into withdrawing 5,000 euros from his account at Ostsächsische Sparkasse Dresden. He did this in the belief that he was helping the police catch an allegedly corrupt bank employee. To do this, the alleged police officers needed the withdrawn cash as evidence, they claimed. In collaboration with the savings bank, the actual criminal investigators were able to take measures and only had to hope that the fraudsters did not become suspicious.
That was successful: the perpetrators guided the 83-year-old, who had put the money and his debit card in an envelope, to a tree. There the man placed a bag with the envelope of money and walked away as requested by the fraudsters. When the two people who picked up the envelope picked up the envelope, they were temporarily arrested by the police. On September 27, the two Germans were brought before an investigating judge, who issued an arrest warrant against them. Both are in custody.
Lucky you – but still be careful
In coordination with the public prosecutor’s office, the police chief handed over the 5,000 euros to the 83-year-old on Friday. In their investigation, the Dresden criminalists are now aiming to find out who was behind the crime, to be able to assign and solve further crimes and to uncover their networks. These investigations will continue for some time.
Police President Lutz Rodig: “This fraud caused great harm to many people, especially older people, in Dresden and the surrounding area. That’s why I’m pleased that we were able to identify two suspects and give the injured person his savings back. This is a great success! Nevertheless, we know that the number of pickups in particular is large and that the people behind the scam will therefore have an easy time continuing with their scam. The wave of fraudulent calls may have stopped for the time being, but we still advise a healthy degree of mistrust when strangers call and the Using a pretext to quickly direct the speech to the money and assets of the person being called.”
The police advise:
– Be suspicious if strangers ask about your assets on the phone, even if they pretend to be police officers or prosecutors!
– Don’t let yourself be put under pressure on the phone!
– Don’t give money into other people’s hands!
– If in doubt, consult trusted people or the police!
