Shock-call fraud in Hildburghausen: elderly couple loses coins worth €20,000
Fraudsters posed as criminal police and stole silver and gold coins from a retired couple in Thuringia. Police warn again of the shock-call scam.
Fake police officers obtain coin collection in Thuringia
An elderly couple in Hildburghausen district has become a victim of a perfidious shock-call scam. As reported by BILD, fraudsters obtained silver and gold coins worth approximately €20,000.
The perpetrators posed as Bavarian criminal police over the telephone and claimed that the couple's daughter had caused a fatal traffic accident. They said that only a bail payment in the form of cash or valuables could prevent her from serving a prison sentence. Concern for their daughter prevented the couple from doubting the story.
The fraudsters skilfully separated the elderly couple: they sent the man to Bamberg, where he was supposedly to pick his daughter up from custody. Meanwhile, a person dressed as a police officer appeared at their home address. The woman handed over the coin collection to him, believing she was helping her daughter.
Only afterwards did the couple realise that the entire story was fabricated. The perpetrators had deliberately exploited the time pressure and emotional turmoil of the situation — a known tactic in shock-call fraud.
Police are warning again about this fraud scheme in connection with the incident. Genuine police officers neither demand bail nor cash or jewellery and do not collect valuables from citizens. Anyone who receives such a call should hang up immediately and contact affected relatives directly. If in doubt, the authorities recommend immediately calling the emergency number 110. Even silent calls warrant caution: experts advise not speaking and ending the call immediately.
Source: BILD