Overview
- A wave of impersonation calls pressured elderly victims to pay supposed bail or hand over valuables; police say callers posed as prosecutors, police or lawyers and kept victims on the line to block verification.
- On Tuesday, Oct. 13, a Sonthofen woman handed over cash and precious-metal coins worth a high six‑figure sum after a caller claimed her daughter had killed a cyclist, and similar October incidents later produced large losses in Guxhagen and Bad Langensalza.
- Bank staff in Kreis Gießen stopped a 74‑year‑old from handing over €78,000 by urging him to contact police, and investigators say frontline employees can play a key role in preventing these scams.
- Regional police report about 550 call‑fraud cases in 2026 with roughly 30 successful scams causing around €1.6 million in the Schwaben Süd/West area, and detectives are seeking witnesses to described couriers and vehicles including a black BMW with foreign plates.
- Authorities advise hanging up immediately, never giving PINs or cash over the phone, calling 110 to verify emergencies, checking with relatives by known numbers, and reporting any handovers promptly to aid investigations and protect other seniors.