The callers describe that a relative (often son/daughter) has caused a fatal traffic accident. In order to avoid long prison sentences, money is to be paid immediately as bail to a money messenger at the public prosecutor's office or at a court (regional or district court). In modified scenarios, there is talk of an illness and the callers say they need money for treatment or medication.
The perpetrators give the impression that they are a close relative (usually a grandson/granddaughter/nephew/niece) or a good acquaintance. They feign a financial emergency and ask you for money at short notice. You should not speak to anyone about the call.
The callers pretend to be police officers and warn you of a planned break-in. Money and jewelry are no longer safe at home. Accomplices of the burglars would be working at your bank and your assets would also be at risk there.
The fraudsters pretend to be members of your bank. They use fake emails, text messages or phone calls with fake telephone numbers (spoofing) to give the impression that they come from the bank. By making alarming claims (including unauthorized transactions), the fraudsters try to panic those affected.
Variant 1: In one variant, the fraudsters ask for your PIN for your EC or credit card. After you have given your PIN, an unknown person pretending to be an employee of your bank collects your EC or credit card for verification purposes.
Variant 2: In the other variant, the fraudsters explain that they need a TAN (transaction number) in order to stop and reverse the unauthorized transaction. Everything has to happen very quickly. You should provide a TAN immediately.
The supposed employees of the payment service PayPal state on the phone that the data of the person called has been misused for crypto transactions and offer their help. In the course of the call, the fraudsters ask to remotely access the PC or cell phone of the person called. The aim of the fraudsters is to gain access to the victim's online banking system They also want the victim to film or scan their ID card. They then use the data obtained in this way to open further accounts in the name of their victims. The perpetrators then withdraw funds and use the victims' email addresses or accounts to carry out crypto transactions - in other words, they do exactly what the alleged PayPal employees were trying to protect against at the beginning of the phone call.
An alleged relative (son/daughter) contacts you via the messenger service using an unknown number and states that the cell phone is defective. You are then asked to make a transfer to a third party, as the relative allegedly does not currently have access to online banking.
The scammers promise high winnings over the phone. Before a prize is handed over, those affected are asked to pay "processing fees" or buy prepaid cards for online purchases.
The phone rings and someone offers you unsolicited technical support for your laptop, computer or tablet because a license has expired or there is supposedly malware on your computer. You should allow the caller to connect to your computer via a so-called remote access tool (e.g. TeamViewer Remote). The perpetrators want to use this to gain access to your PC, your online banking or PayPal account.
The police expressly warn you:
- Do not disclose any sensitive data such as bank account details, passwords or details of assets to people you do not know over the phone.
- Do not tell any caller your PIN or a TAN (transaction number). No bank employee will call you and ask for your PIN or a TAN.
- Do not hand over cash or other valuables to people you do not know. Even alleged police officers are strangers to you.
- Do not pay bail! Neither the police nor a public prosecutor's office or a court will accept bail as security after a traffic accident with a fatal outcome so that the person involved in the accident can be remanded in custody.
- Only contact relatives and friends via numbers you know. Do not save a presumably new number without first contacting the person using the number you know.
- The real police will never call you on 110. If you see the number 110 on the display and have already accepted the call, please end the call immediately.
- Telephone numbers of police stations or credit institutions in the Kleve district can be falsely used by telephone fraudsters. (Spoofing). Therefore, do not automatically trust a caller because he calls with the telephone number of a police station or a bank. Ask for the name and the authority and hang up! Really end the call. Then call the police or the financial institution and find out whether the call was correct.
- Be skeptical if someone wants to access your computer remotely or asks you for access codes.
- If you have any doubts during a phone call, simply hang up.
- Inform the police on 110 and, if possible, relatives if you receive suspicious calls.
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Further information on senior-specific and other crimes, such as pickpocketing, can be found here.