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Fraudulent shock calls: Seniors lose thousands of euros!
In the Böblingen district, seniors became victims of shock calls. Fraudsters posed as police officers and demanded money.
Fraudulent shock calls: Seniors lose thousands of euros!
In the Böblingen district, con artists have struck again, targeting older people. On June 11, 2025, two senior citizens became victims of this unscrupulous scam. The 70-year-old senior citizen from Schönaich received a call in which the perpetrator posed as a police officer. He warned her that her daughter-in-law was involved in a fatal traffic accident. In order to avert alleged imprisonment, the elderly woman transferred several thousand euros to a foreign account. This form of manipulation is not new, as the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has been warning about so-called “shock calls” since May 2023.
Another affected woman, a 75-year-old senior citizen from Holzgerlingen, also received a call on the same day. Here the fraudsters posed as police officers and prosecutors and claimed that their son had caused a fatal accident. In order to avoid pre-trial detention, the senior citizen has to pay a deposit of 55,000 euros. Shortly afterwards, an alleged court messenger appeared at her door, but left when the woman demanded that she be handed over to the police station. Both women filed police reports, a step that is urgently needed to prevent further harm.
Common scam
The shock call scam is becoming increasingly sophisticated and is now on the rise. As the police explains, the callers often pose as close relatives or officials from state institutions and put the victims under pressure. They suggest that quick financial help is necessary because a relative is in acute distress, for example after a traffic accident. This is often done to get victims to pay large sums of money.
The BKA emphasizes that fraudsters often use several callers who take turns during the conversation. This tactic often leaves older people feeling disturbed or frightened and not realizing that they are being scammed. The amounts demanded can even reach into the five-figure range, which underlines the urgency of the warning.
How to protect yourself
In this context, there are some important tips that everyone should heed to protect themselves from such scams. Here are some tips from the police's preventive advice:
- Legt bei Verdacht sofort auf und kontaktiert die Polizei unter 110.
- Ruft Angehörige unter den bekannten Nummern an, um die Situation zu klären.
- Teilt keine persönlichen oder finanziellen Informationen am Telefon mit.
- Übergebt keine Wertsachen oder Geld an Unbekannte.
- Wenn Zweifel bestehen, zieht eine Vertrauensperson zurate oder informiert die Polizei.
Shock calls are a serious danger that particularly affects older people. Those affected should not be afraid to seek help and contact the police in order to avoid similar incidents in the future. The BKA and the police also offer support for victims and advise preventive measures to ensure their own safety.