Criminal's unsuccessful call attempt
In a commendable display of vigilance, an 83-year-old senior citizen from Erftstadt successfully prevented a potential scam on Tuesday, September 2nd. The incident unfolded during an afternoon call, approximately at 12:15 PM.
The senior citizen received a call from someone claiming to be a police officer from the Rhein-Erft district. The caller reported the alleged arrest of burglars who had information about the victim and their assets. However, the senior citizen became suspicious during the call and reacted appropriately.
Recognising the potential danger, the senior citizen took immediate action. They independently dialed the emergency number (110) during the call, ensuring their safety. The police control center was informed about the attempted scam, and a report was taken on the scene by the responding officers.
It's crucial to remember that police officers, prosecutors, and other officials never demand the handover of cash or valuable items. Therefore, do not comply with such demands from callers. Similarly, do not provide information about valuable items, cash, or bank accounts to callers.
In such situations, it's always best to contact the relevant authority directly or the police via the emergency number 110. In this case, the authority responsible for the press office of the Rhein-Erft Police Authority is the Kreispolizeibehörde Rhein-Erft-Kreis. Their press and public relations department, known as Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit, can be reached at [email protected] and by phone at 02271 81-3305.
The senior citizen's quick thinking and awareness served as a powerful deterrent, demonstrating that education and vigilance can effectively combat such scams. The incident serves as a reminder for everyone to stay alert and report any suspicious calls to the authorities.
