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Gelsenkirchen (dpa / lnw) - Con artists have stolen money and jewelry worth several thousand euros from a senior citizen in Gelsenkirchen.
With the warning of an imminent break-in into her house the following night, strangers pretended to be police officers at the elderly woman's premises on Tuesday and persuaded her in several phone calls to surrender her valuables.
The alleged officers pretended to keep cash and jewelry safe at the police station overnight.
As the police announced on Wednesday, for Corona protection reasons, the woman should deposit her belongings in front of the house, where it was actually picked up shortly afterwards.
According to the information, the about 25-year-old fake police officer escaped with an accomplice in a silver or gray car.
In the meantime, the real police had been alerted by an acquaintance of the injured party.
However, the elderly woman initially refused to open the door to the correct officers.
At the time, she was still on the phone with the fake policeman who convinced her that the uniformed officers at the door were fraudsters.
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The police warned that the elderly in particular are repeatedly victims of phone fraud.
The perpetrators often stole large sums of money.
The police never call private individuals to inquire about valuables.
Great caution is advisable here.
"Hang up immediately if you become suspicious and call the police on the emergency number 110," it said.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210224-99-572219 / 2
Police notice