How scammers are currently up to mischief in Austria
Scams are always around and they change all the time. The Federal Criminal Police Office therefore also warns of current scams and gives tips on how to protect yourself from them in Austria.
AUSTRIA. It rings – a call at this hour, but is actually no longer expected. The caller’s voice sounds calm and resolute – the police are speaking, the phone is booming. The story told by the alleged police officer sounds worrying: It is said, for example, that a gang of burglars is up to mischief in the area and is now making its way to the person called.
In order to bring all valuables to safety, they should be handed over to the “police” for safekeeping. A handover meeting is organized and picked up either by the caller himself or by an accomplice. Behind this is a criminal scam that is currently also circulating in Austria – older people are particularly affected.
Beware of this scam too
Because, of course, behind the call is not a real police officer who is concerned about the well-being of the person called, but a criminal gang who sense their chance of making quick money. Anyone who has fallen for the trick usually has drastic consequences. Money, valuables and things of inestimable personal value end up in the hands of fraudsters – finding them again is usually very difficult.
Another form of cop scam is bail fraud. Here, too, the similar perpetrators take action, only they tell the victim that a close relative caused an accident with an injured person. In order to avoid dying or leaving the relatives in prison, the victim should pay bail. This WILL then be picked up by the caller himself or an accomplice.
The Federal Criminal Police Office warns and gives tips
Here is an overview of current scams:
- Call bot calls: In call bot calls, perpetrators use specific computer programs to call potential victims. A tape recording in English is played to the victims. The number that appears on the display of the person called was falsified using technical means and is therefore not traceable. The victims are then supposed to press a certain key combination, which means that the perpetrators select in advance those people who would hang up on such calls immediately or who don’t speak English. English-speaking perpetrators who pretend to be (Interpol) police officers then report. The victim is informed that they are involved in criminal activities such as money laundering, fraud, drug-related or violent crimes and must now pay bail.
- Fake Cops: Another common practice is the fake cop trick. The perpetrators specifically call older people who pretend to be detectives. They tell the victim that, for example, a gang of burglars is up to mischief in the area and would break into the person they called next. In order to bring the valuables and possible assets to safety, they should be handed over to the “policeman” for safekeeping. If there is a meeting, the accomplices pick up the money and valuables.
- Different approaches: Bail fraud is a modification of the policeman’s trick. The perpetrators’ procedure is similar here: They tell the victim that a close relative was involved in the accident and is now in custody, which would mean that bail would have to be paid.
Perpetrators adapt to the victim
In order to unsettle their victims, the scammers invent adventurous stories, such as that the bank employees are involved in criminal activities. The victims are then supposed to get cash at the bank counter and then hand it over to the “police” to secure their fingerprints.
The perpetrators adapt to the situation and focus entirely on the victim. The scammers find a suitable, plausible counter-argument for every argument put forward by the victim. Whether sympathetic or aggressive, the only thing that matters to the perpetrators is making the victim understand the urgency of the matter. This creates stress, time pressure and anxiety in the victim. In addition, the criminals claim that it is important not to tell anyone about the call so as not to jeopardize the investigation.
Have you been the victim of a scam yourself?
The crime prevention of the Federal Criminal Police Office and the initiative together. Certainly, cooperation with the banking sector has been intensified via the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO) and a guideline for counter staff has been developed. The Austrian Senior Citizens’ Council is also an important partner in prevention work. By using the action guide, criminal offenses and saved assets have already been prevented.
Prevention Tips:
- Do not reveal any details about your assets!
- Don’t let yourself be pressured – hang up!
- Don’t leave strangers in your home!
- Demand an official ID card from alleged officials!
- Never give money to strangers!
- YOU consultation with people from your personal environment!
- Take warnings from bank employees seriously!
- Call the emergency number 133 and ask if this police officer really exists!
- In the event of damage, file a report with the nearest police station!
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