Shock calls in Hesse: Seniors in the sights of the brazen fraudsters!

Shock calls in Hesse: Seniors in the sights of the brazen fraudsters!

In Hesse, a worrying increase in shock calls is observed, although the number of calls decreases compared to previous years. According to the report of hessenschau.de in particular are older people of the main goals of these fraudulent stitch. The police in Hesse also registered such calls weekly, with recent cases resulting in dramatic losses for those affected.

Special attention attracted two incidents: a senior citizen in Rödermark published gold worth over 100,000 euros, while an 80-year-old man from Bad Nauheim lost two gold bars in the same value. But not only seniors are affected; Minors are also under pressure, as the case of a child in Friedrichsdorf shows that has lost several thousand euros. Investigations have shown that the perpetrators specifically take advantage of the weaknesses and fears of their victims.

increase in financial damage

The investigation showed that in 2023 around 4.5 million euros were captured by shock calls, which is in stark contrast to only 140,000 euros in 2019. The average damage per case rose from 32,000 euros in 2022 to 49,000 euros in 2023. The highest losses are particularly alarming, including a case in which an 89-year-old lost 250,000 euros in Neu-Isenburg.

The police crime statistics have recorded shock calls as an independent phenomenon. The reconnaissance rate was only 13.7% last year, while the total success rate of the police was 63.2%. Even if some perpetrators are arrested, the number of unreported cases remains high, since many victims out of shame refrain from complaining.

prevention measures and recommendations

victims are often faced with stories that a relative was involved in a serious traffic accident or committed a crime. You will be asked to make financial "help" immediately. An important element of this stitch is to counteract contact with the police or relatives. The BKA guide recommends contacting the police immediately instead of following the callers' claims and revealing personal information.

protection of the older generation

In order to better protect seniors, the Federal Ministry of Family, Seniors, Women and Youth has the brochure "Rat, who is on, who is?" published. This contains tips on how to recognize fraudsters and which behaviors are recommended to protect themselves from the stitches of the criminals. The brochure aims to open the eyes of the fraudsters' tricks and to encourage them to keep course when they are faced with such calls.

fraudsters who deliberately take advantage of the weaknesses of older people show how important it is to point out the population of this danger and to take preventive measures. The case of Rita Jakob-Auth, who was a fraudster during a shock call and informed the police, serves as an encouraging example of civil courage.

The situation remains tense, and it is crucial that both those affected and the relatives are informed about the dangers of shock calls to minimize their speaking influence on society.