Police Raid Uncovers WhatsApp Fraud Scheme Targeting Seniors

Seven suspects, including five minors, are accused of defrauding victims of six-figure sums through fake emergency messages.

Authorities in Duisburg and Gelsenkirchen conducted coordinated raids, seizing cash, mobile phones, and valuables linked to the fraud scheme.
The suspects allegedly used WhatsApp messages posing as family members in distress to manipulate victims into transferring money.
The group, active since October 2023, is accused of exploiting seniors with fake identities, including posing as police officers and bank employees.
A juvenile suspect, considered the primary perpetrator, has been arrested and placed in pre-trial detention for organized and commercial fraud in six cases.
Investigators are working to determine the full extent of the financial damage and whether the group is tied to additional, unreported crimes.