Overview
- The fraud began around 8 a.m. on November 15 with a call from someone posing as a Sparkasse employee who claimed there had been an unlawful bank booking.
- Shortly after, a man with a counterfeit police ID arrived at the victim’s home on Metzer Straße and said he needed to take the cash to check banknote serial numbers.
- After receiving the money, the perpetrator ran from the apartment, and the senior called the emergency number to report the crime.
- Essen police have opened an investigation, say the suspect remains at large, and are sharing prevention tips to curb similar offenses targeting older residents.
- Authorities stress that genuine officials do not request cash or valuables by phone or in person and advise verifying callers via known numbers and never handing over money, cards, PINs or valuables.