The police warn of a new type of fraud via Whatsapp, which takes up a well-known scam of telephone fraud. There are already several victims.
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Police warn: New scam via Whatsapp
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The police warn of a new scam via Whatsapp. The fraudulent messages come from phone numbers unknown to the recipients. The sender pretends to be the victim’s son. In the WhatsApp message, the stranger offers his “dad” to pay two bills worth several thousand euros.
In a specific case from the Kaufbeuren area, a senior fell for such a Whatsapp and actually paid his alleged son two bills for several thousand euros via online banking. Only after he had already made the transfer did he notice the “many spelling mistakes in the text of the messages from his supposed son”, as the police write.
The fact that contact is made via Whatsapp and no longer by phone call is still a relatively recent development that started in 2021. However, the police are already aware of some successful scams with such messenger messages. The scammers stole tens of thousands of euros.
New twist on an old scam
After all, this is just the written version of the old “grandchild trick” via phone call. This scam targets elderly and single people. The calls typically begin with “guess who’s talking” or similar phrases. The scammers pretend to be relatives, grandchildren or even good acquaintances and ask for cash at short notice. The police describe the process mentioned in the calls as follows: “The reason given is a financial bottleneck or an emergency situation, for example an accident, a car or computer purchase. The situation is always presented as extremely urgent. Those affected are often put under pressure by repeated calls. As soon as the victim wants to pay, a messenger is announced to collect the money.”
That’s what the police advise: How to unmask grandchild trick calls
Don’t guess who is calling, always ask callers to say their own name.
Be suspicious when people on the phone pretend to be relatives or acquaintances you don’t recognize.
Ask the caller things that only the right relative/acquaintance could know.
Do not reveal any details about your circumstances.
Don’t let yourself be rushed and pressured.
Take the time to verify the caller’s details. Call the person concerned on the number you have known for a long time and have the facts confirmed.
If a caller is asking for money or other valuables: Discuss this with family members or others close to you.
Never give money or valuables such as jewelry to unknown persons.
Immediately inform the police by dialing 110.
If you have already been the victim of a grandchild trick, you must report the act to the police. This can help the police to recognize connections, to sensitize other people accordingly and to convict the perpetrators.
This tip is often overlooked: Have your first name abbreviated in the phone book (for example, Herta Schmidt becomes H. Schmidt). That way, the perpetrators can no longer track you down. To change a telephone book entry, contact Telekom.