Strike against organized crime: Since 2022, the real police have arrested exactly 99 fake cops. The damage caused still amounts to 34.4 million euros.
In June 2023, Hertha B. (name changed) received a suspicious phone call. Fraudsters confronted the elderly person from Tulln (Lower Austria) with shocking news. Her daughter caused a fatal accident abroad.
Sob like a stitch
A bond must be paid to release her. With sobs in the background, the fake police officers amplified their trick. Only they had not made the calculation at Hertha B. As Karl Popper, head of investigation at the Lower Austrian Criminal Police, revealed to ‘Krone’, the older woman had recognized the fraud and called real police officers at the same time. Four people who wanted to take their money are in custody.
Woman gave two million to fake officials
These are four of the 99 fraudsters that the ‘Fake Police Investigative Group’ led by the Federal Criminal Police has been able to arrest in Austria since 2022. Most of them (46) are located in Lower Austria, followed by Upper Austria (11). The amount of damage the crooks steal increases. In 2021 there were seven million, in 2022 15 million and in 2023 so far 19.4 million euros – on average there is damage of 25,000 euros.
Of the 1,572 scam calls since the start of the year, 290 were successful. One victim handed over jewelry worth two million euros to the wrong officers.
74 arrests during the week of action
A week of action that took place from November 27 to December 8 in Germany, Switzerland and Poland led to 74 arrests (four of them in Austria) and the thwarting of acts with a damage amount of five million euros – the number of unreported cases is approximately one. Many times higher. According to BK fraud boss Manuel Scherscher, a call center in Warsaw was destroyed.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) was satisfied and warned – as was cyber expert Dr. Cornelius Granig – at the same time before the holidays: “It can affect anyone.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
