Overview
- Reports rose to 1,080 incidents in October after 798 in September and 853 in August, reversing the post-July dip.
- Offenders largely target people aged 70 and over, using tactics such as a one‑cent verification SMS, convincing phone calls and courier pickups, sometimes with names or parts of uniforms.
- Police stress they never collect cash, jewelry or bank cards with PINs from homes and ask residents to report attempts to increase the chance of catching suspects in the act.
- On October 16 a 70-year-old in Veenendaal lost €8,500 after a one‑cent SMS, a call from a supposed bank ICT staffer and a courier pickup; ATM withdrawals followed at Scheepjeshof as police consider releasing clearer suspect images.
- In Rotterdam an ING employee blocked an attempted €13,000 jewelry purchase made with an 85-year-old’s card, and police released images and appealed for tips on the suspect.