Manhunt for scammer who preyed on youth in Germany

A young man in Mannheim fell victim to a scam after being approached by a stranger with a sob story. The incident occurred on Sunday, June 7, near the main train station. The perpetrator, who claimed to be Croatian and in urgent need of cash, convinced the 21-year-old victim to withdraw 200 euros from an ATM.

The scammer then promised to repay the loan via bank transfer, even showing a fake confirmation of a 300 euro deposit. When the suspect asked for more money, the victim refused and left. He later realized the promised transfer never occurred, and his bank statement only showed the 200 euro withdrawal.

Police have released a description of the suspect: a man approximately 25 years old, between 175-180 cm tall, with dark brown hair and a beard around his mouth. He was last seen wearing a black short-sleeved shirt, white shorts, white shoes, and carrying a black laptop bag. The investigation is being handled by the Mannheim-Oststadt police station.