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A 71-year-old from Gersfeld in the Rhön fell victim to a brazen scam. Unidentified persons posed as bank employees. The police warn urgently.
Gersfeld – On Monday (May 18th) a citizen in Gersfeld in the Rhön fell victim to a particularly bold scam. Con artists contacted the man and posed as employees of his bank, as the East Hesse police headquarters in Fulda announced in a press release.
The callers asked the 71-year-old to hand over his bank card and PIN to a supposed bank employee because a new card would soon be sent to him in the mail. The man believed the fraudsters and gave his card to a man who showed up at his house shortly afterwards.
Brazen fraud: fake bank employees trick pensioners out of money
It was only the victim's daughter who later realized that her father had been cheated and that the perpetrators had already withdrawn cash from his account. The police describe the person who picked up the car as male, around 40 to 50 years old, tall, with a very slim build and dark hair. He spoke German without an accent.
“In principle, be suspicious if someone pretends to be a bank employee on the phone or at your front door who you cannot clearly recognize as such,” advises police spokesman Jonas Trabert. “Hang up immediately as soon as the person you are talking to demands money, valuables, PINs, TANs or transfers from you.”
It is important to never share confidential banking information over the phone or via message. “If in doubt, call your bank employee on the phone number known to you or the police on 110,” said the police spokesman. “Attention: Do not use the redial button for this. Redial the phone number you know.”
“Don't be fooled by the phone numbers displayed. Through so-called call ID spoofing, fraudsters can display any phone number – including your bank's – on the phone display. If you have become a victim of fraud or have received a call, contact your bank immediately and report it to the police.”
The police officers are now asking for any relevant information about the incident with the wrong bank employee in Gersfeld. Witnesses can contact the East Hesse police headquarters on (0661) 1050, any other police station or via the online watchdog at www.polizei.hessen.de report.
Ten days ago Trick thieves made jewelry loot with a bold scam in Alsfeld in the Vogelsberg district. According to the police, an unknown man rang the doorbell of a 74-year-old woman in the afternoon and pretended to be a heating installer. The elderly woman had no suspicions and let the man in.
