Overview

• On June 4, 2025, fraudsters posing as police convinced a Greifenberg retiree to hand over jewelry and watches valued at around €100,000.
• The scammers claimed the victim’s daughter was in a traffic accident and needed a bail payment, keeping her on the line between 13:45 and 16:00.
• An accomplice acting as a courier collected the valuables at the senior’s home after the perpetrators employed an “extremely skilled” approach, according to investigators.
• Authorities report a surge in ‘shock call’ scams targeting elderly Germans since October 2024 and warn that real police never solicit cash or valuables by phone.
• Police advise seniors to refuse demands for valuables, verify caller identities and contact law enforcement immediately if they suspect a scam.