Scammers steal money and precious metals worth over 300,000 euros through shock calls

Two elderly individuals in Germany's Ortenau district have been defrauded of more than 320,000 euros through sophisticated phone scams. The incidents, reported by police, highlight the persistent threat of "shock calls" and exploitation of personal circumstances by criminals.

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One of the two was induced to hand over the money after a "shock call" involving a staged accident.

In one case, a senior citizen was persuaded to give up precious metals valued at 300,000 euros. The scammers fabricated a story about an accident to elicit this response. In a separate but related scheme, another victim was coerced into handing over 20,000 euros in cash. This second scam preyed on the victim's concern for a relative, falsely claiming that immediate treatment costs needed to be covered.

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With the other, the fraudsters exploited the health situation of a relative and claimed he had to cover treatment costs for him.

Both victims, residents of Renchen and Wolfach, realized they had been deceived and subsequently reported the incidents to the police. Authorities are using these cases to issue a renewed warning to the public, urging individuals not to succumb to pressure tactics or hand over money and valuables to unknown callers. The police emphasize the importance of verifying such demands and remaining vigilant against fraudulent schemes.

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One should not be pressured or hand over money and valuables to strangers.