Overview
- In Oberallgäu, two callers posing as police kept an 82-year-old couple on the line and directed them to leave cash and precious metals in a cooking pot that an unknown collector removed, with Kriminalpolizei Kempten investigating a low six-figure loss.
- In Breitenbach am Herzberg, a senior handed over gold bars after a so-called grandchild shock call, and police seek a collector described as about 1.50 meters tall, corpulent, round-faced, in dark clothing, with tips requested at 06621/932-0.
- In Wunsiedel, a 71-year-old lost €70 during a street approach to change money before the thief returned €20 and fled, and searches continue for a slim, blond suspect about 1.80 meters tall in a light down jacket, with witnesses asked to call 09232/9947-0.
- The Polizeipräsidium Schwaben Süd/West reports roughly 400 call-center fraud cases this year versus about 159 last year, with around €220,000 in losses so far from 10 successful cases compared with €280,000 from 9 last year.
- Authorities stress prevention: police do not collect cash or valuables or call from the 110 number, do not share financial details, verify identities using independently sourced contacts, and end calls that demand immediate payment.