“Perfidious type of crime”
Faeser wants to put a stop to tricksters
06/01/2023, 00:47
Con artists go to great lengths to get their victims’ money – and they constantly adapt their repertoire. Federal Interior Minister Faeser reports a massive increase in cases. In order to get the problem under control, she relies primarily on educational work.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser wants to take more action against con artists and their various scams. “I think what’s important is to equip the authorities accordingly so that they can work accordingly,” said the SPD politician on the ZDF program “Aktenzeichen XY – Spezial” on the subject of fraud. “But what is most important is the prevention work. We have to educate, educate, educate so that people don’t fall for it.”
In order to “do more for the educational work”, one wants to cooperate more closely with the Federal Criminal Police Office, but also with the State Criminal Police Offices, said Faeser. In the fight against fraudsters, we saw “that we naturally have to respond to different forms of crime with appropriate personnel,” said Faeser. “And of course that applies above all to organized crime.” It is a personal concern of hers, because in cases such as the so-called shock calls there is so much energy behind it and so many people are harmed. The cases have increased massively. “And it affects people in their very own environment, at home, where they actually feel safe when they answer the phone. And that so much money is stolen, so many people are victims, that’s what worries me, there to be tougher now,” she said.
No need to be ashamed
Faeser said it makes her angry when she sees scammers taking advantage of older people’s emotional plight. “And that also drives me to take action against this perfidious type of crime and, above all, to clarify it,” she said in an interview with moderator Rudi Cerne.
Anyone who becomes the victim of a shock call has no reason to be ashamed. “It can happen to anyone, at any time of the day or night,” said the minister. If you are led to believe that your own child is in need, then “do something emotionally” with you. “That’s why I can only say to every victim: Please don’t be ashamed. There’s nothing wrong with falling in there, just go to a police station and report it!”
“Shock callers” are scammers who use the phone to pretend the plight of a family member for whom they need a large sum of money. Again and again, victims hand over large sums of money and jewelry. The ZDF program also dealt with financing fraud, facsimile fraud and Tinder Trading Scam.