Telephone scammers have swindled 35,000 francs in the Canton of Fribourg.
Published: Monday, Oct 30th 2023, 12:51
Updated At: Tuesday, Oct 31st 2023, 00:53
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Fraudsters have swindled an 87-year-old senior in Flamatt FR out of a total of 35,000 Swiss francs by posing as false bank and police employees. Several people have been arrested.
The scammers initially posed as bank employees and told the senior that fraudulent withdrawals had been made from his bank account that needed to be reversed. He was instructed to report this to the police via a specific telephone number.
At the other end of the line, a fictitious investigator received the call from the senior. He was able to convince the pensioner to hand over the cash to a pick-up person, as the cantonal police of Fribourg announced on Monday.
After extensive investigations, the Freiburg Cantonal Police were finally able to arrest a 49-year-old German and his partner, a 68-year-old Swiss woman. During the house search, the police found cash and numerous notes about the victims of telephone fraud.
At the Swiss border in Rheinfelden, police were able to arrest another man, a 45-year-old Turk from Germany. He is the brother of the 49-year-old German.
The police suspect that the three are involved in a criminal organization as intermediaries between various money collectors in Switzerland and the masterminds operating from abroad.
If you receive a call with shocking news and demands for money, the police advise not to be afraid and to simply hang up. These calls are likely attempts at fraud.
©Keystone/SDA
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