Fake police officers describe, for example, the arrest of foreign burglary gangs where lists of potential burglary victims have been found. They ask the victims to hand over valuables and cash to a supposed colleague "temporarily" and only for protection. They pretend to the victims that they are obliged to help in order to arrest the "perpetrators". In some cases, victims are tricked into taking all their assets home from the bank, as bank employees are supposed to be among the alleged criminals.
The callers increase the psychological pressure on their victims by making several phone calls lasting hours and even days so that they can no longer think straight. The perpetrators are completely unscrupulous and inventive, depending on the victim's mental state and reactions. In some cases, they ask them to only use their cell phone. The phone calls continue until cash and valuables are handed over at the front door or on the street or left at an agreed location.
The phone display shows the number of the police or another authority.
Through foreign telephone service providers, the perpetrators are able to show any number on the display of the person called. The number on the phone display therefore only provides a clue as to who the caller may be. It is by no means a reliable means of identification. The number 110 is NEVER visible when the police call!
Talk to your older friends or relatives about this and warn them urgently about this scam!
When you are called yourself:
- If you see the police number (110) on your telephone display, possibly with an area code, then this is not a call from the police.
- The number 110 will never appear on your telephone display when you receive a call from the police.
- If the caller pretends to be a police officer, ask for their name and dial 110 yourself. Tell the police the facts of the case. Do not give unknown persons any information about your financial circumstances or other sensitive data.
- Never open the door to strangers or ask someone you trust to do so.
- NEVER hand over money or valuables to strangers as a precaution, not even to messengers or alleged employees of the police, public prosecutor's offices, courts or financial institutions.
- If you have been the victim of such a call, always contact the police and file a complaint.