On Tuesday, a 67-year-old in Vienna-Favoriten was contacted by phone by a man she did not know. The man pretended to be a police officer and told the woman that after breaking into her neighborhood, they wanted to set a trap for the perpetrators. She would have to hand over money from him to colleagues, which the woman has done several times. However, after some “transactions”, the Viennese woman became suspicious and went to a police station. It soon became clear that she had been the victim of a scam.
Because the wrong police officer had contacted the lady again, real officers arranged a new transfer with the woman. This finally happened on Thursday. In the course of the official act that followed, a 19-year-old German and a 22-year-old Turk were arrested.
A forged police identity card was found during a search of the two men’s homes. The suspects refused to testify during the interrogation and were taken to a prison. Overall, this incident resulted in damage averaging six figures.
Tips from the Vienna Police to protect yourself from fraud
Always warn parents, grandparents and great-grandparents about the various scams of the “fake cops”:
- The police never ask for cash or valuables for safekeeping or for “theft traps”.
- End suspicious calls and dial 133.
- Do not give details about family or financial circumstances.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
