Overview

• Fraudulent 'shock calls' involve scammers posing as police or legal officials to demand large sums of money, often citing fake emergencies involving victims' family members.
• Victims, primarily elderly individuals, are pressured into handing over cash or valuables, with some losing life savings in the process.
• German and Polish authorities have intensified cross-border investigations, uncovering organized crime networks operating call centers to execute these scams.
• Recent operations in Germany and Poland led to the arrest of multiple suspects and the prevention of significant financial losses, but the networks remain active and adaptive.
• Police urge the public to verify claims independently, avoid sharing financial details over the phone, and report suspicious calls immediately.