Overview
- Prosecutors in Kempten filed charges on August 27 accusing an unnamed 32-year-old of organized and commercial fraud for acting as an 'Abholer' who collected goods and cash in five shock-call cases.
- Authorities say the scams ran between February and April 2026 and netted roughly €194,000 from four victims aged about 61 to 88, including one case where a 77-year-old handed over about €113,000 in jewelry and coins.
- The suspect was arrested in Kempten on April 27 after an 85-year-old recognized the ploy, alerted police, and he has been held in pretrial detention since that arrest.
- Investigators say callers impersonated police or officials, warned of imminent break-ins to coerce victims into handing over valuables, and the accused sometimes used forged documents or fake IDs to appear legitimate.
- At least two accomplices remain unidentified and the Landgericht Kempten will now rule on admitting the indictment and on whether a main trial should take place, with investigators likely to seek those collaborators next.