Potsdam resident falls victim to a so-called WhatsApp scam — (Cityreport24 — News blog)

A 68-year-old man from Potsdam went to the Potsdam police station on Monday evening to report a fraud. The man had apparently fallen victim to the well-known WhatsApp scam. He said that he had received a message from an unknown phone number via WhatsApp on August 1st. His alleged son informed him that his cell phone was broken and that he should now use this new phone number. The alleged son also asked for several transfers to different accounts, as he could no longer make them himself due to the broken cell phone. The 68-year-old believed him and transferred a total of a low five-figure amount. It was only when his real son called that the fraud was discovered.

The police have filed a report and initiated further investigations.

Although the scam has been known for some time, unsuspecting people – mostly seniors – continue to fall victim to this scam. The police advise:

• Inform yourself and your family about common scams. Information about this can be found on www.polizei-beratung.de – the website of the police crime prevention departments of the federal and state governments. You can also find competent contacts for crime prevention at your local police station.
• Pay attention to the security settings of the messaging service you use and regularly check the privacy settings. If strangers can see your profile picture or status posts, for example, it will be much easier for scammers to make “appropriate” contact with you.
• Never transfer or hand over money or valuables to unknown accounts or strangers.
• To be on the safe side in the event of a real emergency, contact the people who are believed to be involved or their close relatives. Use the telephone numbers you already know, for example your daughter or son.
• If you suspect fraud, call the police on 110.