22.06.2021 – 09:38
Police lip
Lip (ots)
Fraudsters are currently trying to use a new variant of the grandchildren’s trick to deprive their victims of their savings. To do this, they do not use the landline phone for a call as usual, but send messages via messenger services such as “WhatsApp”. The victims are contacted by false relatives or acquaintances via “WhatsApp” with an unknown phone number and with something like the following words: “Hello mom, I have a new phone number.” The reason given, for example, is that the cell phone was lost or broken. In the next step, the victim will be asked to save the new number. The next message follows via “WhatsApp” that, for example, an open invoice has to be paid for a large amount. Due to the circumstances, the wrong friends or relatives are unable to access their online banking to transfer the money. The victim is asked to make the transfer to a named account in order to settle the bill and it is assured that the money will be repaid in a few days. However, this will never happen.
The police urgently advise: Under no circumstances should you accept monetary claims via messenger services. Do not immediately contact someone else’s number. Ask your relatives personally using previously known contact details whether they have actually changed their telephone number. If you have already become a victim, always file a criminal complaint – this is the only way for the police to become aware of (new) fraudulent schemes and to prosecute the perpetrators.
Press contact:
Police lip
Press office
Nina Ehm
Phone: 05231 / 609 – 5050
Fax: 05231 / 609-5095
E-Mail: [email protected]
https://lippe.polizei.nrw/
Original content by: Lippe Police, transmitted by news aktuell
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